Abstract
The comparative nucleotide sequences of the region of inverted terminal repetition from a representative member of group C (nononcogenic), group B (weakly oncogenic), and group A (highly oncogenic) adenoviruses are analyzed. The data show that the length of this unique region increases with the oncogenicity of the serotype, a unique homologous region 14 nucleotides long is present exactly at the same distance from the terminus, and a hexanucleotide sequence, T-G-A-C-G-T, is present at the site where the terminal repetition diverges.