The hemagglutinin-neuraminidase protein of peste des petits ruminants virus is biologically active when transiently expressed in mammalian cells

The genes coding for the surface glycoproteins hemagglutinin-neuraminidase (HN) of the pests des petits ruminants virus (PPRV) and hemagglutinin (H) o f rinderpest virus (RPV) were cloned in a cytomagalovirus promoter driven e xpression vector and expressed transiently in mammalian cells. The protein expression was apparent 24 h after transfection and the expressed proteins were detected at the cell surface. The transiently expressed PPRV HN protei n was found to be biologically active in possessing hemadsorption and neura minidase activities. On the other hand. RPV H protein exhibited neuraminida se activity but was deficient in hemadsorption activity. The substrate spec ificity of the neuraminidase activity of these two proteins differed distin ctly. The presence of neuraminidase activity in both PPRV HN and RPV H prot eins is unusual among members of the morbillivirus genus. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.