Nucleotide sequence of the thymidine kinase gene of a new strain of herpes simplex virus type 1.

The nucleotide and deduced amino acid sequence of the thymidine kinase gene of a new strain of herpes simplex virus type 1 is reported in comparison with the published sequences for three other strains. The primary gene structure is shown to be highly conserved. Changes normally occur at the same positions in the protein molecule and are not distinctive of any specific strain since they can be found in each one of them. However, a unique substitution takes place in our strain at amino acid position 240 where a glutamic acid replaces a glycine. This modification apparently does not alter the enzyme activity and, therefore, must be located outside the catalytic site.