CDNA CLONING AND MOLECULAR CHARACTERIZATION OF CHERRY GREEN RING MOTTLE VIRUS

The complete nucleotide sequence of the cherry green ring mottle virus (CGRMV) genome was determined to be 8372 nt excluding a 3' poly(A) ta il. Based on computer analysis and sequence comparison, five open read ing frames (ORFs) were identified on the virion strand encoding: a put ative RNA-dependent RNA polymerase, a triple gene block and a coat pro tein. Two other ORFs with M-r values over 10000 and internal to the he licase and coat protein genes, but of unknown function, were also iden tified. Sequence and genome structure comparisons with other filamento us viruses indicated that CGRMV is most similar to apple stem pitting virus, some carlaviruses and potexviruses, However, it is different fr om members of any of these virus groups in regard to sequence homology and genome organization. A chimeric fusion coat protein was expressed in E. coli and antibodies specific for the CGRMV coat protein were ra ised in rabbits. The antibody was used in Western blot analyses to det ect the CGRMV coat protein in infected cherry tissue.