Complete nucleotide sequence of the S10 genome segment of grass carp reovirus (GCRV)

Hemorrhagic disease, caused by the grass carp reovirus (GCRV), is one of the major diseases of grass carp in China. Little is known about the structure and function of the gene segments of this reovirus. The S10 genome segment of GCRV was cloned and the complete nucleotide sequence is reported here. The S10 is 909 nucleotides long and contains a large open reading frame (ORF) encoding a protein of 276 amino acids with a deduced molecular weight of approximately 29.7 kDa. Comparisons of the deduced amino acid sequence of GCRV S10 with those of other reoviruses revealed no significant homologies. However, GCRV S10 shared a putative zinc-finger sequence and a similar distribution of hydrophilic motifs with the outer capsid proteins encoded by Coho salmon aquareovirus (SCSV) S10, striped bass reovirus (SBRV) S10, and mammalian reovirus (MRV) S4. It was predicted that this segment gene encodes an outer capsid protein.

Sequence of genome segments 1, 2, and 3 of the grass carp reovirus (Genus Aquareovirus, family Reoviridae)

The genome segments 1, 2, and 3 of the grass carp reovirus (GCRV), a tentative species assigned to genus Aquareouirus, family Reouiridae, were sequenced. The respective segments 1, 2, and 3 were 3949, 3877, and 3702 nucleotides long. Conserved moths 5' (GUUAUUU) and 3' (UUCAUC) were found at the ends of each segment. Each segment contains a single ORF and the negative strand does not permit identification of consistent ORFs. Sequence analysis revealed that VP2 is the viral polymerase, while VPI might represent the viral guanyly/methyl transferase (involved in the capping process of RNA transcripts) and VP3 the NTPase/helicase (involved in the transcription and capping of viral RNAs), The highest amino acid identities (26-41%) were found with orthoreovirus proteins. Further genomic characterization should provide insight about the genetic relationships between GCRV, aquareoviruses, and orthoreoviruses, It should also permit to precise the taxonomic status of these different viruses. (C) 2000 Academic Press.