The nucleotide sequence of apple stem grooving capillovirus genome.

The complete nucleotide sequence of apple stem grooving virus (ASGV) genome has been determined. The genome is 6496 nucleotides in length excluding a 3'-terminal poly(A) tail and contains two overlapping open reading frames (ORFs). ORF1 begins at nucleotide position 37 and is terminated at position 6341, encoding a protein with a molecular weight of 241 kDa. ORF2, which is in a different reading frame within ORF1, begins at position 4788 and can encode a 36-kDa protein. The 241-kDa protein contains two consensus sequences associated with the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase and the NTP-binding helicase. Comparisons of amino acid sequences around these conserved motifs with other RNA viruses revealed that ASGV has extensive similarities with apple chlorotic leaf spot, tymo-, carla-, and potexviruses, and is a member of the sindbis-like supergroup. ASGV coat protein is found to be located in the C-terminal region of the 241-kDa polyprotein. The 36-kDa protein encoded by ORF2 contains the consensus sequence Gly-Asp-Ser-Gly found in the active site of several cellular and viral serine proteases.