CHARACTERIZATION OF AN IN-VITRO TRANSCRIPTION SYSTEM FROM RINDERPEST VIRUS

An in vitro transcription system for rinderpest virus (RPV) is describ ed. Ribonucleoprotein complexes isolated from RPV-infected Vero cells, human lung carcinoma cells, or detergent-disrupted purified virions s ynthesized authentic RPV mRNAs for the N, P, M, F and H genes as ident ified by dot blot hybridization analysis with individual cDNA clones. The relative abundance of the mRNAs synthesized in vitro decreased fro m the 3' end of the genome to the 5' end, very similar to that observe d with measles virus transcription in vitro. The transcription by puri fied virions was stimulated three-fold by the addition of infected hum an lung carcinoma cell lysate, demonstrating the involvement of host f actor(s) in mRNA synthesis.