Nucleotide sequence and organization of the adeno-associated virus 2 genome

The complete nucleotide sequence of the adeno-associated virus 2 genome was determined. The single-stranded genome is 4,675 nucleotides in length and contains inverted terminal repeats of 145 nucleotides, the first 125 nucleotides of which form a palindromic sequence. Within the inverted terminal repetitions, there are two distinct sequences representing an inversion of 43 nucleotides that can exist on either terminus. The 5' and 3' termini of three major mRNA transcripts, which are present in both spliced and unspliced forms, were also mapped on the viral genome. Potential initiation and termination codons for efficient protein synthesis were identified, and genome segments were assigned that code for three major viral capsid proteins and, possibly, some as-yet-unidentified, nonstructural viral proteins.