Nucleotide sequence of a human cytomegalovirus DNA fragment encoding a 67-kilodalton phosphorylated viral protein.

Previously, we demonstrated that a DNA fragment from the L-unique region at 0.37 to 0.39 map units of human cytomegalovirus DNA codes for a 67-kilodalton phosphorylated tegument protein. (Davis et al., J. Virol. 52:129-135, 1984). We have determined the nucleotide sequence of this DNA, transcription initiation and termination, and putative promoter region. We also compared the properties of the protein product predicted from the DNA sequence with the properties of the protein isolated by immunoabsorbent column chromatography. This viral structural protein may have important functions, such as protein kinase activity, DNA binding, and possible transcriptional activation of immediate-early genes.