[Primary structure of RNA 3 of barley stripe mosaic virus and its variability]

The complete nucleotide sequence was determined for three variants of the third genomic component of BSMV strain Argentina mild. The common variant, RNA 3 (2797 nucleotide), contains two open reading frames (ORFs) coding for two proteins with Mr of 74,229 (putative BSMV RNA polymerase) and Mr of 16,994. The second ORF is expressed from a subgenomic RNA. The extended variant RNA 3 differs from the common one only by the presence of a direct tandem repeat 351-363 nucleotides in length (with some variability) encompassing part of the leader sequence and the beginning of the first ORF. The resulting protein has a Mr of about 86,000. The defective variant, RNA 4, carries a deletion of 185 nucleotides in the 3'-end proximal part of the first ORF, which shortens the product to a Mr of 60,344.