MEASLES-VIRUS FUSION - ROLE OF THE CYSTEINE-RICH REGION OF THE FUSIONGLYCOPROTEIN

Measles virus (MV) fusion requires the participation of both the fusio n (F) and hemagglutinin (H) glycoproteins. The canine distemper virus fusion protein (CDVF) cannot substitute for the measles virus fusion p rotein (MVF) in this process. Introduction of restriction enzyme sites into the cDNAs of CDVF and MVF by site-directed mutagenesis facilitat ed the production of chimeric F proteins which were tested for their c apacity to give fusion when coexpressed with MVH. Fusion resulted when the amino-terminal half of the MVF cysteine-rich region was transferr ed to CDVF.