The matrix protein gene sequence analysis reveals close relationship between peste des petits ruminants virus (PPRV) and dolphin morbillivirus

The gene encoding the matrix protein of peste des petits ruminants virus (P PRV) has been cloned and its nucleotide sequence determined. This gene is 1 466 nucleotides long and contains an open reading frame (ORF) capable of en coding a basic protein of 335 amino acid residues with a predicted molecula r weight of 38 057 Da. This ORF starts at position 33-35 and ends with the codon TAA at position 1038-1040 thus leaving a long untranslated region (42 6 nucleotides) at the 3' end of the messenger RNA. This fragment is very G/ C rich (68.5%) and in contrast to the ORF region appears to be least conser ved in the M gene sequence of the morbilliviruses. A comparison of the PPRV M protein with those of other viruses in the group confirms the previously noted high degree of conservation for this protein sequence. The percent o f identity within the group ranges from 76.7 to 86.9%, the highest being wi th the dolphin morbillivirus matrix protein. (C) 1999 Published by Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.