Nucleotide sequence and genome organization of foot-and-mouth disease virus

A continuous 7802 nucleotide sequence spanning the 94% of foot and mouth disease virus RNA between the 5′ -proximal poly(C) tract and the 3′ -terminal poty(A) was obtained trom cloned cDNA, and the total size of the RNA genome was corrected to 8450 nucleotides. A tong open readin frame was identified within this sequence starting about 1300 bases from the 5 end of the RNA genome and extending to a termination codon 92 bases from its polyadenylated 3 end. The protein sequence of 2332 amino acids deduced trom this coding sequence was correlated with the 260 K FMDV polyprotein. Its processing sites and twelve mature viral proteins were inferred from protein data, available for some proteins, a predicted cleavage specificity of an FMDV encoded protease for Glu / Gly(Thr, Ser) linkages, and homologies to related proteins from poliovirus. In addition, a short unlinked reading frame of 92 codons has been identified by sequence homology to the polyprotein initiation signal and by in vitro translation studies.