Sequences of ribosome binding sites from the large size class of reovirus mRNA.

Ribosome-protected fragments from two of the large-sized reovirus mRNAs were recovered from sparsomycin-blocked 80S initiation complexes. The sequence of each protected oligonucleotide was determined. The ribosome binding site of each message includes the m7G cap and a centrally positioned AUG codon. An adenine residue occurs three nucleotides upstream from the initiator codon, thus conforming to the pattern [AG]NNAUG observed for nearly all eucaryotic initiation sites.