Nucleotide Sequence of cDNA Clones Encoding the Outer Capsid Protein, VP5, of Bluetongue Virus Serotype 10

Department of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama 35294, U.S.A. The complete sequence of the RNA segment that codes for a major outer capsid protein (VP5) of bluetongue virus serotype 10 has been determined from overlapping cDNA clones inserted into pBR322. The segment 5 RNA of the virus (M5 RNA) is deduced to be 1638 base pairs long (1.05 x 10 6 daltons) and has an open reading frame in one strand capable of coding for a protein with a calculated size of 59163 daltons (526 amino acids) and a net charge of -4.5 at neutral pH. Keywords: BTV, capsid protein, nucleotide sequence Received 7 January 1986; accepted 7 February 1986.