Abstract
Some Herpes-, Pox- and Irido-virus genes (and the controversial Stealth virus gene) share significant nucleotide sequences with vertebrate chemokine receptors (CKR) genes. In some instances the viral reading frame is the same as in the CKRs, giving rise to similar protein products. In other cases the reading frame is different and the viral protein product is not CKR-like. In yet other instances the segmental alignments between CKR genes and viral genes are more limited. In this article we discuss in detail only the more highly significant alignments. We propose the hypothesis that both CKR and CKR-like viral genes originated from a common ancestral gene. This older ancestor may have differentiated into two sequences, one giving rise to the group of extant CKR genes with relatively low levels of similarity with viruses, and the other to the other extant CKRs and the CKR-like viral products. The two extant proteins of the CKR and viral groups which share the maximum amino acid identities are the human CCR3 and the E1 of the Equid herpes virus 2, with a continuous alignment coverage of 73% of the viral molecule. It is thus proposed that the ancestral sequence giving rise to both CKRs and CKR-like viral products may have been similar to the extant human CCR3 and E1 Equid herpes virus 2.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
