We determined 3, 135 bp of the nucleotide sequence located in an 8.5 kb EcoRI-E fragment in the unique long (UL) genome region of Marek's disease virus serotype 2 (MDV2), and identified
UL
20
and UL21 homologous genes of herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1). The
UL
20
and UL21 homologous genes of MDV2 are arranged colinearly with the prototype sequence of HSV-1. In addition, an open reading frame (MDV2 ORF 273), which has been identified within the UL21 homologous gene of MDV2, has no apparent relation to any other known herpesvirus genes. Northern blot analysis and reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction confirmed the existance of RNA transcripts related to the
UL
20
and ORF 273 genes in MDV2-infected cells, except no transcript related to the UL21 gene being detected. The putative protein product of the MDV2
UL
20
gene had a relatively low homology but that of the MDV2 UL21 gene had a moderate homology among herpesviruses. Further, the possible functions and features of the predicted proteins encoded within the sequenced region are discussed.
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