DNA sequence of the major capsid protein gene of herpes simplex virus type 1.

The DNA sequence of the region of the herpes simplex virus type 1 genome encoding the major capsid protein was determined. The predicted protein contains 1374 amino acid residues and has a molecular weight of 149,075. Comparisons of the amino acid sequence of this protein with those predicted from the published DNA sequences of two other herpesviruses, varicella-zoster virus and Epstein-Barr virus, resulted in the identification of the major capsid protein gene in each genome.