Complete nucleotide sequence of Northern cereal mosaic virus and its genome organization

Summary.  We determined the complete nucleotide sequence, 13, 222 nucleotides (nts) of the Northern cereal mosaic virus (NCMV). The genome had 273 nt 5′ trailer sequence and 90 nts 3′leader sequence. It formed a terminal complementarity in 25 nts of both terminal sequences. A characteristic intergenic sequence (consensus) separating genes, 3′-AUUCUUUUUGACUCUAGU-5′ was presented. The genome had nine open reading frames (ORFs) on the viral complementary sequence. Five putative proteins of NCMV were postulated by its molecular weight or comparison of the similarities to other rhabdovirus proteins: nucleocapsid (N), non-structural protein or phosphoprotein (P), matrix protein (M), glycoprotein (G), and polymerase (L). A series of four small ORFs (genes 3 to 6) were also presented between P and M gene sequences. The proposed NCMV genome organization was 3′leader-N-P-3-4-5-6-M-G-L-5′trailer. N and L proteins of NCMV had low but distinct similarities to those of lettuce necrotic yellows virus and Sonchus yellow net virus, respectively. Received September 29, 1999 Accepted January 26, 2000