Nucleotide sequence of the genes encoding the matrix and small hydrophobic proteins of pneumonia virus of mice.

The nucleotide sequences of the genes encoding the matrix (M) protein and the small hydrophobic (SH) protein of pneumonia virus of mice (PVM) are described. The matrix protein gene contains a large open reading frame encoding polypeptide of 257 residues which shows considerable (38.6-42.1%) amino acid identity with the matrix proteins of other pneumoviruses. The matrix gene also contains a second, smaller, open reading frame (ORF) as seen with the equivalent genes of other pneumoviruses. The PVM second open reading frame is capable of encoding a polypeptide of 46 residues and shows no significant similarity with the proteins encoded by the equivalent open reading frames of the other pneumoviruses. The gene adjacent to that encoding the matrix protein encodes a small, 92 residue, polypeptide which has a central hydrophobic domain and is structurally similar to the small hydrophobic protein of respiratory syncytial virus.