Identification and Sequence Analysis of UL34 Gene from Duck Plague Virus CHv Strain

A 831-bp complete open reading frame of the duck plague virus UL34 gene (GenBank accession no, EF643562) was identified in our laboratory. The molecular characteristic of this gene was amplified and analyzed with bioinformatics software. The results indicated that this gene encodes an estimated 276 putative protein, contains the conserved domain of the Herpesvirus-UL34-like protein. Phylogenetic tree of the amino acids sequences showed this gene has a close evolutionary relationship with GaHV-2, GaHV-3, MeHV-1, EHV1, CeHV-9 and HHV-3, indicating that the DPV should be placed into a single cluster within the subfamily Alphaherpesvirinae. The relative molecular weight of the protein was 31.016kDa, an obvious transmembrane region was located between 252-274 amino acids but without a signal peptide. Five N-myristoylation sites, four Casein kinase II phosphorylation sites, three Protein kinase C phosphoraylation sits, one N-glycosylation site, a Microbodies C-terminal targeting signal and eight antigenic determinants were searched in the protein. Most of the total proteins were located in the nucleus. This gene was AT-riched and the expression in yeast might be better. These results provided rational data to elucidate biological function and physiological features of the gene.