Nucleotide sequence of the coding and flanking regions of the human parainfluenza virus 3 hemagglutinin-neuraminidase gene: comparison with other paramyxoviruses.

The nucleotide sequence of the human parainfluenza virus 3 (HPIV3) hemagglutinin-neuraminidase (HN) gene has been determined using cDNA clones derived from both HPIV3 genomic RNA and mRNA. The HN mRNA contains 1,882 nucleotides, not including the poly(A) tail. Primer extension experiments were carried out to locate the 5' terminal nucleotide of the HN mRNA. The 3' end of the mRNA was located at a putative polyadenylation signal. The HPIV3 HN mRNA has one large open reading frame that codes for 572 amino acids with a deduced molecular weight of 64,178. Potential polymerase recognition signals for the HN and L genes were located in the flanking regions. The HN protein of HPIV3 shares some common features with the previously sequenced HN proteins of Sendai virus and Simian virus 5. The features include: an N-terminal membrane anchor, two regions of highly conserved amino acid sequence and strong conservation in the positions of the cysteine residues. The relationship is closest between Sendai virus and HPIV3.