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

We have determined the complete nucleotide sequence of the thymidine kinase (ATP:thymidine 5' phosphotransferase, EC 2.7.1.21) gene of herpes simplex virus type 1 strain CL101 from a plasmid clone of viral DNA derived by Enquist et al. [Enquist, L. W., Vande Woude, G. F., Wagner, M., Smiley, J. R. & Summers, W. C. (1979) Gene 7, 335-342]. A cDNA copy of the 5' end of thymidine kinase mRNA was also analyzed to locate the transcribed sequences. The transcribed portion of the gene is approximately 1300 nucleotides in length and appears to contain no intervening sequences. There is an untranslated region of 107 nucleotides at the 5' end of the mRNA followed by an open reading frame of 1128 nucleotides. The gene is thus capable of coding for a protein of 376 amino acids. Sequences similar to those thought to be involved in control of transcription and translation of a variety of eukaryotic and viral genes such as a "Hogness box" and A-A-T-A-A-A polyadenylylation signals are also present in the herpesvirus thymidine kinase gene.