Anatomy of bovine mammillitis DNA II. Size and arrangements of the deoxynucleotide sequences.

We previously reported that bovine mammillitis virus (BMV) DNA consists of two covalently linked components designated L and S and estimated to be 71.5 x 10(6) and 15.7 x 10(6) in molecular weight, respectively; the components invert relative to each other, giving rise to four equimolar populations differing soley in the relative orientation of the two components. We now report that (i) BMV DNA has a contour length corresponding to a molecular weight of 89 x 10(6). (ii) Component L consists of a unique sequence (Ul) bracketed by sequences ab and its inverted repeat b'a', estimated to be of molecular weights 66.1 x 10(6), 2.7 x 10(6), and 2.7 x 10(6), respectively. (iii) Component S consists of a unique sequence (Us) bracketed be sequence ca and its inverted repeat a'c', estimated to be of molecular weights 8.3 x 10(6), 3.7 x 10(6), and 3.7 x 10(6), respectively. (iv) The a sequences present at the termini of a complete linear molecule (abUlb'a'a'c'Usca) are arranged in tandem so that the DNA can circularize after limited digestion with arranged in tandem so that the DNA can circularize after limited digestion with lambda 5'-exonuclease. The size of the a sequences was estimated to be 0.7 x 10(6) in molecular weight. (v) At least portions of the a sequences are repeated in an inverted orientation immediately adjacent to or near the a sequence. Thus, BMV DNA mimics herpes simplex virus type 1 DNA with respect to the arrangement but not size of deoxynucleotide sequences. The evolutionary relationship of BMV DNA relative to other herpesvirus DNAs is discussed.