Reovirus type 3 genome segment S4: nucleotide sequence of the gene encoding a major virion surface protein.

A full-length cDNA copy of reovirus double-stranded RNA genome segment S4 which codes for a major virion structural polypeptide, sigma 3, has been completely sequenced. The 1,196-nucleotide cDNA contains a single long open reading frame in the plus strand extending 1,095 nucleotides from the 5'-proximal A-T-G to a single stop codon. This corresponds to translation of 92% of the S4 gene. The inferred sigma 3 polypeptide is hydrophilic and consists of 365 amino acids, totalling 41,164 daltons.