[Prediction of the nucleotide-binding properties of viral proteins from their primary structure]

Screening of amino acid sequences of a variety of virus-specific proteins for fragments structurally similar to the "ATP-consensus", a universal sequence found in nucleotide-binding pockets of several ATP-utilizing enzymes, was made. Fragments of hypothetical nucleotide-binding pockets were discovered in some proteins of DNA viruses (herpesviruses, papovaviruses, poxviruses and parvoviruses, comoviruses, bromoviruses, alpha 1-phaviruses and tobamoviruses). Analysis of the published data concerning the functions of the virus-specific proteins in question makes it evident that the proposal that these proteins possess nucleotide-binding properties. Is confirmed by these data or, at least does, not contradict to them. The possibility of a common evolutionary origin of the proteins containing fragments similar to the "ATP-consensus" is discussed.