The primary structure of the 24K protease from red clover mottle virus: implications for the mode of action of comovirus proteases.

We have determined the nucleotide sequence of the region of red clover mottle virus (RCMV) bottom component RNA which encodes the RCMV equivalent of the cowpea mosaic virus (CPMV) 24K protease. From the alignment of the deduced amino acid sequence of the RCMV 24K protein with that of the homologous protein from CPMV, we speculate on the relative importance of the various amino acid residues which have been implicated in the catalytic mechanism of comovirus proteases.