CHARACTERIZATION OF THE POLYHEDRIN GENE OF SPODOPTERA-LITURA NUCLEAR POLYHEDROSIS-VIRUS

The polyhedrin gene (polh) of a characteristically distinct Spodoptera litura nuclear polyhedrosis virus isolate (SIMNPV) is identified in t he HindIII-F fragment of the viral DNA. The nucleotide sequence of the 1057 base pair (bp) region of this fragment contains an open reading frame (ORF) without any intervening sequence for coding a polypeptide of 246 amino acids. Analysis of the nucleotide sequence and deduced am ino acid sequence indicate that this has more than 70% sequence identi ty to known polyhedrins, The coding region is preceded by an AT rich r egion containing the conserved late promoter motif TAAG. The upstream promoter and coding regions of this polh gene are more similar to polh of the NPVs of Spodoptera frugiperda (Sf), Spodoptera exigua (Se) and Panolis flamea (Pf).