Identification and nucleotide sequence of the early region 1 from canine adenovirus types 1 and 2.

The genome of canine adenovirus type 1 (CAV-1) has been cloned and restriction maps compiled. These maps are compared with those of canine adenovirus type 2 (CAV-2). The left ends of both genomes were further characterised by DNA sequence analysis. Several features of the DNA sequence and predicted polypeptide sequence are similar to those of the human adenoviruses. The level of homology observed across the E1 regions appears to be of the same order as the overall DNA similarity between CAV-1 and CAV-2 (75%). Transfection experiments using the presumptive E1a containing region of CAV-2 suggests that it encodes a transactivating function typical of the human adenovirus E1a genes.