Prediction of arenavirus fusion peptides on the basis of computer analysis of envelope protein sequences.

Theoretical search and selection criteria for putative fusion peptides of enveloped viruses are proposed. Arenavirus fusion peptides are predicted on the basis of computer-assisted analysis of amino acid sequences of arenavirus envelope proteins and elements of their secondary and tertiary structure. Accordingly, two regions of GP2 surface protein from 5 viruses of Arenaviridae family have been detected with properties typical of fusion peptides of other enveloped viruses. One region, named peptide IV, located at the N-terminus of the GP2 protein, is followed by the other region or peptide V, more likely candidate for the arenavirus fusion peptide.