COMPLETION OF THE LASSA FEVER VIRUS SEQUENCE AND IDENTIFICATION OF A RING FINGER OPEN READING FRAME AT THE L-RNA 5'-END

Lassa (LAS) fever virus is a highly pathogenic arenavirus with large ( L) and small (S) RNA genomic segments. The 5' end of the LAS L segment is described here, thereby completing the sequence of the most virule nt arenavirus analyzed to date. In keeping with the ambisense gene str ucture of the arenaviruses, the LAS L RNA encodes a 250-kDa protein an d an 11-kDa protein in opposite senses with respect to each other. The 11-kDa protein, defined previously in arenaviruses lymphocytic chorio meningitis (LCM), Tacaribe (TAC), and Pichinde (PIG), contains a RING type of zinc-binding structure. Expression of the 11-kDa protein in LA S virus-infected cells has been confirmed by binding to peptide-specif ic antibody. (C) 1997 Academic Press.