Identification and sequence of the gene encoding gpIII, a major glycoprotein of varicella-zoster virus.

The genome of varicella-zoster virus (VZV) encodes three major glycoproteins, two (gpI and gpII) having been mapped and sequenced, which carry epitopes capable of eliciting neutralizing antibodies. The product of the third major glycoprotein gene (gpIII) was purified, and seven consecutive amino acids at its N-terminus were identified. A degenerate pool of oligonucleotides based upon this sequence was used as a probe to localize the gpIII gene to the HindIII B fragment of the VZV genome. An analysis of the DNA sequence from this region revealed an open reading frame (ORF) encoding 841 amino acids. Rabbit antisera against three synthetic peptides derived from the putative gpIII gene recognized a protein which comigrated with gpIII in Western blots and immunoprecipitation analysis. Preclearing with a monoclonal antibody to gpIII specifically abolished immunoprecipitation of this protein. Also a polypeptide translated from mRNA selected by the putative gpIII gene could be immunoprecipitated by the anti-peptide sera. Therefore, we conclude that gpIII is encoded by the identified ORF in HindIII B. In addition, gpIII is implicated as essential for the cell-to-cell spread of VZV.