Orthopoxvirus Genes for Kelch-like Proteins: I. Analysis of Species-Specific Structural Features

摘要

Genes and proteins of the kelch superfamily were structurally analyzed in the smallpox (SPV), monkeypox, cowpox (CPV), and vaccinia viruses. Genes potentially conding for the kelch-like proteins were found only in the variable terminal regions of the orthopoxvirus genome. The set and sizes of their proteins products varieds with species. All genes of the surperfamily proved to be sirupted by mutations in SPV, which is highly pathogenic for its only host, man. The largest set of kelch-like proteins was observed for CPV, which is low-pathogenic for humans and has the broadest animal host range. The kelch-like proteins of one virus showed low homology to each other, whereas isologs of different virues were highly homologous. The results testified to the earlier assumption that CPV is the most ancient representative and an ancestor of the other orthopoxviruses pathogenic for humans.