SEQUENCE OF THE PV2 GENE OF RICE HOJA BLANCA TENUIVIRUS RNA-2

Comparison of a partial sequence of rice hoja blanca tenuivirus RNA-2 with 40% similarity to rice stripe tenuivirus RNA-2 revealed regions of high local sequence homology at the 5' terminus, within the coding region (the pv2 gene), and in the intergenic region separating this gene from the other protein (pc2) encoded by this ambisense RNA. Analysis of the conserved regions of the pv2 protein identified two motifs found principally in viral membrane glycoproteins and six motifs found each in a wide variety of proteins. The possible significance of these results is discussed.