THE PUTATIVE LEF-1 PROTEINS FROM 2 DISTINCT CHORISTONEURA-FUMIFERANA MULTIPLE NUCLEOPOLYHEDROVIRUSES SHARE DOMAIN HOMOLOGY TO EUKARYOTIC PRIMASES

We have identified the lef-1 genes from two multiple nucleopolyhedrovi ruses that infect natural populations of Choristoneura fumiferana. The lef-1 genes in both viruses are directly upstream and in the opposite orientation of their respective ecdysteroid UDP-glucosyltransferase ( egt) genes. This gene organization pattern is similar to that found in the genomes of AcMNPV and of OpMNPV. As well, the coding regions and putative protein sequences share a high degree of similarity. Alignmen t of the predicted amino acid sequences of all known baculovirus lef-1 genes suggests that the LEF-1 proteins have a relatively high degree of conservation, particularly at four identified and distinct domains. Moreover, LEF-1 proteins bear clear similarity to some eukaryotic pri mases, predominately at three of the four domains where certain amino acids are absolutely conserved.