The nucleotide sequence of RNA1 and RNA2 of olive latent virus 2 and its relationships in the family Bromoviridae.

The complete nucleotide sequence of RNA1 and RNA2 of olive latent virus 2 (OLV-2), a virus with quasi-spherical to bacilliform particles and a non-polyadenylated tripartite ssRNA genome, was determined. RNA1 consists of 3126 nucleotides and contains a single open reading frame (ORF) coding for a polypeptide with a molecular mass of 102689 Da (p1a). RNA2 is also a monocistronic molecule, 2734 nt in length, coding for a polypeptide with a molecular mass of 90631 Da (p2a). The translation products of RNA1 and RNA2 possess the motifs proper to helicase, methyltransferase (RNA1) and RNA polymerase (RNA2), suggesting that both are involved in the replication of the viral RNA. The similarities found between OLV-2 and members of the Bromoviridae in some properties and in the sequences of all genomic products (including p1a and p2a) are strongly indicative that it belongs in this family. OLV-2, however, did not show a direct relationship with any of the current genera in the family. Rather, it revealed homologies in diverging directions with one or other of the Bromoviridae genus, thus qualifying as the possible representative of a new taxon in this family.