Human cytomegalovirus genome: partial denaturation map and organization of genome sequences.

Contour-length measurements of both nondenatured and partially denatured DNA from purified extracellular human cytomegalovirus indicate that more than one size class of viral DNA is encapsidated. In addition to a size class averaging about 100 x 10(6) daltons, a much less abundant class of larger viral DNA molecules, 150 x 10(6) to 155 x 10(6) daltons, was extracted from purified extracellular virus. As predicted by melting-curve analysis, partial denaturation of human cytomegalovirus DNA generates denaturation maps showing distinctive adenine plus thymidine (A+T)-rich and guanine plus cytosine (G+C)-rich localizations. Alignment of partial denaturation maps of both 100 x 10(6)- and 150 x 10(6)- to 155 x 10(6)-dalton molecules from maximum overlap of common A+T- and G+C-rich zones clearly shows six unique zones contained in a length equal to the longest class, 150 x 10(6) to 155 x 10(6) daltons. However, various alignments of the smaller class of the molecules within the confines of the approximately 100 x 10(6)-dalton-length equivalent are nondistinctive. Of the six unique A+T- and G+C-rich zones, five are linked in a specific sequence and maintain the same relative orientation; these features indicate the absence of major inversions within these zones. The sixth unique zone may occur at either end of this five-zone series, but it was never found at both ends of the same molecule. Additionally, this terminal zone appears to undergo complete inversions at least at one end of the alignment, and perhaps at both. These data indicate that 150 x 10(6)- to 155 x 10(6)-dalton molecules comprise human cytomegalovirus-specific genetic information.