Open AccessSequence and expression of the ns2 protein gene of human coronavirus OC43
Author(s) -
Patrick Labonté,
Samir Mounir,
Pierre J. Talbot
Publication year - 1995
Publication title -
journal of general virology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.55
H-Index - 167
eISSN - 1465-2099
pISSN - 0022-1317
DOI - 10.1099/0022-1317-76-2-431
Subject(s) - biology , open reading frame , gene , peptide sequence , virology , bovine coronavirus , coronavirus , amino acid , nucleic acid sequence , sequence analysis , microbiology and biotechnology , antiserum , cytoplasm , genetics , antibody , covid-19 , medicine , disease , pathology , infectious disease (medical specialty)
The complete nucleotide sequence of the ns2 gene of human coronavirus OC43 (HCV-OC43) was determined. Sequence analysis revealed an open reading frame that could encode a protein of 278 amino acids, with an estimated molecular mass of 32.2 kDa. Six potential phosphorylation sites are present but no sites of N-glycosylation were found. The amino acid sequence of the HCV-OC43 ns2 protein shows 92% identity with that of the Mebus strain of bovine coronavirus (BCV). However, a stretch of nine consecutive amino acids near the C terminus is completely different, causing it to be very hydrophilic, which contrasts with the hydrophobic nature of this region in BCV. As shown by immunofluorescence with a monospecific antiserum, the ns2 protein was expressed in the cytoplasm of HCV-OC43-infected HRT-18 cells.