We cloned and characterized a very late expression factor 1 gene, vlf-1, which regulates the level of very late gene transcripts, from Bombyx mori nuclear polyhedrosis virus (BmNPV) K1 strain. The 1,140 bp vlf-1 has an open reading frame of 379 amino acid and a MW of 44 kDa. The vlf-1 nucleotide sequence of BmNPV-Kl showed high homology with Autographa californica nuclear polyhedrosis virus and BmNPV T3 strain so far known, and its deduced amino acid residues were identical to those of BmNPV T3. The location of vlf-1 in the BmNPV-Kl genome was confirmed by Southern blot analysis and its expression patterns at the transcriptional level were confirmed by Northern hybridization analysis.