A COMPARISON OF NUCLEOTIDE-SEQUENCES OF MEASLES-VIRUS L-GENES DERIVEDFROM WILD-TYPE VIRUSES AND SSPE BRAIN-TISSUES

The nucleotide sequences of the large protein (L) gene derived from tw o wild-type measles viruses (MV) and two SSPE brain-derived viruses ha ve been determined. All sequences have single large open reading frame s encoding 2183 amino acid residues. The deduced L proteins are well c onserved and the proposed functional domains which have been identifie d for rhabdo- and paramyxoviruses are completely conserved in all stra ins. The degree of variability of L proteins is the lowest of all stru ctural proteins of MV, reflecting its role in virus reproduction and p ersistence. Biased hypermutation was not observed in the L genes deriv ed from SSPE brain tissue. None of the nucleotide changes can be assoc iated with the attenuated phenotype of the Edmonston vaccine viruses. (C) 1995 Academic Press, Inc.