Nucleotide sequence of the polyhedrin gene of Euxoa scandens cytoplasmic polyhedrosis virus (EsCPV)

The double-stranded RNA genome of Euxoa scandens cytoplasmic polyhedrosis virus (EsCPV) was reversely transcribed to the double-stranded DNA and cloned into pIBI30. The complete nucleotide sequence of cloned genome segment 10, which encodes the virus polyhedrin polypeptide, was determined. The EsCPV polyhedrin gene consists of 881 bp and possesses an open reading frame that codes for a polypeptide of 269 amino acids (MW 30.1K), consistent with an apparent MW of 30K determined by SDS-PAGE for purified polyhedrin. The sequence is identical to that reported for the amino terminus of polyhedrin from the CPV of Orgyia pseudotsugata; however, no amino acid or nucleotide sequence homology was found between the EsCPV polyhedrin and that from Bombyx mori CPV (BmCPV) or several nuclear polyhedrosis viruses. The hydrophilic profiles and predicted secondary structures of both EsCPV and BmCPV polyhedrin show some similarities, mainly in the amino half of the polypeptides. These data should be helpful in identifying the domains responsible for the polyhedrin crystallizing properties.