Possible relation between the U54 segment of the CTHV genome and the conserved gene block C rearranged in alpha and gamma herpesvirus genomes

Partial characterization of two serologically related DNA-binding proteins specified by the cottontail rabbit herpesvirus CTHV

“…Notably sequences have been found whose putative translational products showed similarity with two ubiquitous herpesvirus gene products: a single-stranded D N A binding protein and a protein of the helicase superfamily. These elements may be present in other herpesviruses and in fact an ORF helicase has been located in the PvuII-B fragment [13]. These results indicate that the 75 kDa protein may be located between the terminal repeats and the region containing the helicase gene.…”

“…They are divided into three classes: ct, 13 and 7 according to their cellular tropism and their growth characteristics in vitro [21]. The DNAs are distinguished by their G+C content ranging from 32% to 75%, they contain varying amounts of repetitive DNA sequences at different locations.Based on the architecture of the virion and the structure of its genome [6,12,13], cottontail rabbit herpesvirus (CTHV) belongs to the 3' subgroup (Rhadinovirus [21]) of herpesviruses. This subgroup also includes herpesviruses of New World primates [2,11,14], bovids [3,4,9,24], and the mouse [10], as well as a second cottontail herpesvirus, Herpesvirus sylvilagus [19,20,22].…”