J Korean Soc Virol.  1997 Dec;27(2):197-208.

Analysis of NS4 Region of Japanese Encephalitis virus K94P05 Isolated from Korea

• Kim EJ
• Nam JH
• Park YK
• Cho HW

Abstract

To investigate the NS4 region of JEV, NS4 cDNA of K94P05 (JEV strain isolated from Korea in 1994) was amplified by RT-PCR and analyzed by sequencing PCR product. Genomic size of NS4 was 1212bp and nucleotide sequence was compared with that of other JEV strains. Nucleotide homology between JaOAr582 and K94P05 was 91.1% and that between Beijing and K94P05 was 89.8%, respectively. But the nucleotide sequence of I region of JaOAr582 and K94P05 showed 97.0% homology and that of Beijing and K94P05 did 95.8% homology. NS4 protein was expressed as a form of fusion protein by a prokaryotic expression system. The induced fusion product showed a lower molecular weight than predicted size and remained insoluble. The NS4 protein might be cleavages by E. coli protease. Concluding above results, high hydrophobicity of the NS4 protein supported the fact that this protein played a role as a membrane component and the poor nucleotide sequence conservativity among JEV strains suggested that this region might be important to adapt each viral growth environment.

MeSH Terms

Asian Continental Ancestry Group*
Base Sequence
DNA, Complementary
Encephalitis Virus, Japanese*
Encephalitis, Japanese*
Humans
Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions
Korea*
Membranes
Molecular Weight
Polymerase Chain Reaction
DNA, Complementary