Nucleotide sequence of RNA 1, the largest genomic segment of rice stripe virus, the prototype of the tenuiviruses

The complete nucleotide sequence of RNA 1, the largest genomic segment of rice stripe virus (RSV), was determined using two sets of overlapping cDNA clones. RNA segment 1 comprises 8970 nucleotides and on the viral complementary sequence has a single long open reading frame coding for a protein of 2919 amino acids with an estimated M(r) of 336860. Amino acid sequence comparisons of the putative protein indicated strong homology (30% amino acid identity over about 1500 residues) with the L protein of the genus Phlebovirus of the Bunyaviridae, but no detectable similarity with other members of the Bunyaviridae. However, weak similarity was detected with the L protein of Tacaribe arenavirus. The highly homologous sequence domain includes the conserved motifs of the putative RNA-dependent RNA polymerase. The data presented here, along with previous work clearly show significant similarities in genome organization, structure and expression between RSV and members of the genus Phlebovirus of the Bunyaviridae. Taken together, we propose that tenuiviruses should be included in the Bunyaviridae under the genus Tenuivirus.