RT Journal Article SR Electronic(1) A1 Pumphrey, Carla Y. A1 Gray, Wayne L.YR 1994 T1 DNA Sequence and Transcriptional Analysis of the Simian Varicella Virus Glycoprotein B Gene JF Journal of General Virology, VO 75 IS 11 SP 3219 OP 3227 DO https://doi.org/10.1099/0022-1317-75-11-3219 PB Microbiology Society, SN 1465-2099, AB The varicella-zoster virus (VZV) glycoprotein B (gB) is a major viral antigen which elicits immunity and neutralizing antibodies. In this study, the genomic map position and DNA sequence of a simian varicella virus (SW) homologue of the VZV gB gene was identified and the transcript analysed. A 32P-labelled VZV gB DNA probe hybridized to a subclone of the SW BamHl B restriction endonuclease fragment indicating the fine map position of SW DNA sequences homologous to the VZV gB gene. The SW gB DNA sequence was determined and analysis revealed a 2751 base pair open reading frame (ORF) with 71·1% identity to the VZV gB gene and 53·8% identity to the herpes simplex type 1 gB gene. The SW gB ORF encodes a 916 amino acid polypeptide with a predicted molecular mass of 104K. The deduced SW and VZV gB polypeptides share 78·9 % amino acid identity and predicted TV-linked glycosylation sites, cleavage sites and transmembrane regions. 32P-labelled SW gB DNA and RNA probes hybridized to a 3·5 kilobase SW polyadenylated transcript. Primer extension experiments identified transcript start sites for the SW and VZV gB genes and permitted a comparison of the sequences upstream of the SW and VZV gB ORFs. The SW and VZV gB promoter elements are similar in content and align closely. The VZV gB transcript start site suggests a gB polypeptide initiation site which is inconsistent with the previously reported ATG start codon., UL https://www.microbiologyresearch.org/content/journal/jgv/10.1099/0022-1317-75-11-3219