Genome Organization and Expression of the Penicillium stoloniferum Virus S

The complete sequences of two double-stranded RNAs (dsRNAs) (referred to S1 and S2) of Penicillium stoloniferum virus S (PsV-S) were established. The S1 dsRNA was 1,690bp in length, and it contained a unique open reading frame (ORF) of 539 amino acids (molecular weight of 62kDa, referred to P62). The S2 dsRNA was 1,523bp in length, and also it contained one ORF of 434 amino acids (molecular weight of 47kDa, referred to P47). Both S1 and S2 ORFs were identified only on the positive strand of each dsRNA segment. A sequence motif of (5-CUG-3) was found at the 3-termini of the positive strands of PsV-S1 and S2 dsRNAs. The predicted amino acid sequences of S1 dsRNA showed high sequence homology with the putative RNA-dependent RNA polymerases of RNA viruses. Near full-length and positive-sense single-stranded RNAs derived from the S1 and S2 dsRNAs were detected from the PsV-infected host cell. The expressed proteins of P62 and P47 showed a positive reaction against PsV-S antiserum in Western blot analysis. Phylogenetic analysis using the RDRP sequences and the capsid proteins of the various partitiviruses revealed that PsV-S is a definite member of the partitivirus, the family Partitiviridae, and especially clusters well along with D. destructiva virus 1 and 2.