Notes on Genus: Machlomovirus

icosahedra

Type member: Maize chlorotic mottle virus

Contents

• Members of this Genus
• General Description
• Morphology
• Electron Micrograph
• Genome
• Genus Genomic Organization
• Genome Map
• Type Member Genomic Organization
• All Known Sequences
• Curated Sequences

General Description

The genus Machlomovirus (maize chlorotic mottle virus group) currently contains only one member. It is one of 11 genera in the family Tombusviridae. All the genera are morphologically similar, with icosahedral particles and small, (usually) monopartite ss RNA genomes. This genus is most similar to the genus Carmovirus. However, the coat protein is smaller, only one, rather than two, subgenomic RNAs are produced and there is rather little sequence homology. Unlike other members of the family, the virus has an insect vector.

Morphology

Virions isometric (icosahedral), not enveloped, 30 nm in diameter.

Genome

Monopartite, linear, single stranded positive sense RNA, 4437 nucleotides long. Some virions also contain a subgenomic RNA of 1100 nucleotides. The 3' terminus has no poly(A) tract. The 5' terminus has a methylated nucleotide cap, with sequence m⁷GpppA.

Genus Genomic Organization

Six open reading frames have been identified, with the coat protein expressed from a 3'-coterminal subgenomic RNA.

Type Member Genomic Organization

The six open reading frames identified are:

1.	32kDa	ORF1, unknown function
2.	50 kDa	Polymerase
3.	111 kDa	Polymerase readthrough
4.	9 kDa	Movement protein ORF3
5.	33 kDa	Movement protein ORF3 readthrough
6.	25 kDa	Coat protein expressed from a 3'-coterminal subgenomic RNA