Nucleotide sequence and genomic organization of apple chlorotic leaf spot closterovirus

The nucleotide sequence of Apple chlorotic leaf spot closterovirus (ACLSV) genomic RNA has been determined from cDNA clones. It is 7555 nucleotides in length excluding the 3' terminal poly(A) tail and contains three putative open reading frames capable of encoding proteins of 216.5, 50, and 28 kDa. ACLSV RNA has untranslated regions of 151 and 190 nucleotides at its 5' and 3' termini, respectively. The 216.5-kDa ORF encodes a protein which contains the conserved "signature" sequences and has significant homology with the proteins suspected to be involved in viral RNA replication of members of the "Sindbis-like" supergroup of viruses. On the basis of distant homologies with viral movement proteins (M proteins), the 50-kDa ORF is suspected to encode a protein responsible for virus cell-to-cell spread. The 28-kDa ORF contains, in frame, a smaller 21.5-kDa ORF encoding the coat protein of ACLSV. These results show that ACLSV and probably at least the subgroup A of closteroviruses should be regarded as members of the "Sindbis-like" supergroup of RNA viruses.