Molecular cloning of the human hepatitis A virus revealed a 7478-nucleotide genome encoding a polyprotein with structural homologies to poliovirus.
The study determined the complete nucleotide sequence of the human hepatitis A virus genome, revealing its structural relationship to other picornaviruses.
The RNA genome of human hepatitis A virus (HAV) was molecularly cloned. Recombinant DNA clones representing the entire HAV RNA were used to determine the primary structure of the viral genome. The length of the viral genome is 7478 nucleotides. An open reading frame starting at nucleotide 734 and terminating at nucleotide 7415 encodes a polyprotein of Mr 251,940. Comparison of the HAV nucleotide sequence with that of other picornaviruses has failed to reveal detectable areas of homology. However, a computer analysis of the putative amino acid sequence of HAV and poliovirus demonstrated the existence of short areas of homology in virion protein 3 (VP3) and throughout the carboxyl-terminal portion of the polyproteins. In addition, extensive protein structural homologies with poliovirus were detected.
Najarian et al. (Wed,) conducted a other in Hepatitis A virus. Molecular cloning and sequencing vs. Other picornaviruses (e.g., poliovirus) was evaluated on Viral genome length and primary structure. Molecular cloning of the human hepatitis A virus revealed a 7478-nucleotide genome encoding a polyprotein with structural homologies to poliovirus.