Molecular Cloning and Sequence Analysis of the UL45 Gene from Duck Enteritis Virus

Abstract-An open reading frame (ORF) containing 675 nucleotides was got by sequencing the DEV gene libraries constructed by our laboratory. The ORF was identified as DEV UL45 gene by aligning with gene bank database using the software of BlastN and ORF Finder. Specific primers were designed and PCR products containing this ORF were cloned into the vector of PMD18-T. Dot blot confirmed the UL45 gene was a member of DEV genome. DNA sequence analysis showed that the ORF encoded a protein of 224 amino acids with predicted Mr of 24.106kDa.The UL45 protein was a membrane- protein without signal peptide,and it had 13 potential phosphorylation sites and and no glycosylation site.Phylogenetic analysis revealed that UL45 had a close evolutionary relationship with Mardivirus. B cell epitopes were located in 13-17, 20-28, 40-47, 51-56,157-161 and 202-206 amino acids and the main T cell epitope antigens were located in 68-73,130-133 and 157-160 amino acids.