ABSTRACT
The sequence of 2630 3'-terminal nucleotides has been determined for the genomic RNA of potato virus M (PVM), a type member of the carlavirus group. Analysis of this nucleotide sequence revealed five open reading frames coding for proteins of mol. wt. 25, 12, 7, 34 and 11 kDa (in 5'----3' direction). The PVM genome organization has been shown to be basically analogous to that of potexviruses, except that the latter at their 3' end lack the gene encoding 11K protein. Amino acid sequence comparison between the PVM 34K protein and the coat proteins of potexviruses has shown a high extent of homology in the C-terminal amino acids. Homology has also been found between the 25, 12 and 7K proteins encoded by PVM RNA and corresponding potexvirus proteins. All this gave grounds for suggestion that carlaviruses and potexviruses belong to the same subgroup of phytoviruses.
