NUCLEOTIDE-SEQUENCE ANALYSIS OF MAREKS-DISEASE VIRUS (MDV) SEROTYPE-2HOMOLOG OF MDV SEROTYPE-1 PP38, AN ANTIGEN ASSOCIATED WITH TRANSFORMED-CELLS

Marek's disease (Mo) virus (MDV) serotype 1 (MDV1) pp38, an antigen as sociated with MD-transformed cells, has been identified as an MDV1 ser otype-specific antigen by analyses using specific monoclonal antibodie s (MAbs). In the present study, we determined the region in the MDV se rotype 2 (MDV2) genome that has homology with the MDV1 pp38 gene. As a result of sequence analysis, it was determined that an open reading f rame (ORF) existed in this region. Furthermore, Northern blot analysis and reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction confirmed the exi stence of an RNA transcript related to the ORF in MDV2-infected cells. Computer analyses revealed that MDV1 pp38 could be divided into two p arts; one part was highly homologous and the other part was not homolo gous with the peptides deduced from the ORF of MDV2, indicating that t he epitope recognized by a MDV1 pp38-specific MAb is located in the la tter part. (C) 1994 Academic Press, Inc.