A preliminary map of the frog virus 3 (FV 3) genome was constructed by
hybridization-selection of mRNAs to cloned DNA fragments and translat
ion in reticulocyte lysates. FV 3 mRNAs were hybridized to KpnI, HindI
II, and SalI restriction fragments representing the entire FV 3 genome
. Two different hybridization conditions were employed in order to dis
criminate between the hybridization of early and late mRNAs. A total o
f 43 major and 18 minor early genes and nine major and three minor lat
e genes were mapped. A 24 kb region comprised of the KpnI D, H, and E
fragments encodes 8 of the 12 late genes that were mapped.