THE COMPLETE DNA-SEQUENCE OF AUTOGRAPHA-CALIFORNICA NUCLEAR POLYHEDROSIS-VIRUS

The complete nucleotide sequence of the genome of clone 6 of the bacul ovirus Autographa californica nuclear polyhedrosis virus (AcNPV) has b een determined. The molecule comprises 133,894 base pairs and has an o verall A + T content of 59%. Our analysis suggests that the virus enco des some 154 methionine-initiated, and potentially expressed, open rea ding frames (ORFs) of 150 nucleotides or greater. These ORFs are distr ibuted evenly throughout the virus genome on either strand. The ORfs a re arranged as adjacent, nonoverlapping reading frames separated by sh ort intergenic regions. Based on the primary nucleotide sequence, pred ictions have been made concerning the functions of certain genes, the sites for initiation of viral DNA replication, the regulation of early and late gene transcription, and factors that may affect the AcNPV ge ne translational efficiency. The genome sequence data confirm, with mi nor differences, the information obtained for other AcNPV clones. It i s proposed that clone os is considered the archetype AcNPV for compari son purposes. (C) 1994 Academic Press, inc.