Polypeptides encoded by varicella-zoster virus unique short sequences.

The SalI-I and K DNA fragments which lie within the unique short sequences (Us) and contain a portion of the inverted repeat sequences (IRs/TRs) of varicella-zoster virus (VZV) DNA were cloned in an in vitro transcription vector system (pGEM-2). RNA was transcribed from both strands, translated in vitro and analyzed by SDS-PAGE. The results showed that SalI-I and K each codes for three primary translation products. Polypeptides with Mrs of 19,000 (19K), 47K, 93K/90K are encoded by SalI-I and polypeptides of 12K, 19K, and 50K are encoded by SalI-K. These results are consistent with the predicted genetic expression of the VZV SalI-I and SalI-K DNA fragments.