title: Altered translation of the matrix genes in Niigata and Yamagata neurovirulent measles virus strains.
abstract: Niigata and Yamagata strains measles virus were isolated from subacute sclerosing panencephalitis patients. These viruses were defective in virion production and expression of matrix (M) protein. The Niigata M protein-coding frame was interrupted by an in-frame termination codon, whereas the Yamagata M gene lacked the normal translational initiation codon. These mutations prevented translation of a normal M protein. However, RNA derived from the cloned Niigata and Yamagata M genes was translatable in vitro into low levels of aberrant proteins that reacted with M-specific antiserum. These proteins were also translated from poly(A)+ RNA from cells infected by Niigata and Yamagata virus strains. The aberrant M protein of Niigata virus was initiated at a downstream AUG codon created by a second mutation. The Yamagata M gene produced two aberrant proteins: one initiated mainly in vitro at an ACG codon, and a second species initiated at a downstream site both in vitro and in vivo. These results define the abnormal translational functions of the Niigata and Yamagata M genes, and further implicate the involvement of M protein defects in chronic central nervous system infections by measles virus.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle 98196.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ayata
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hirano
authors.forename: T C
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Wong
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D003062:Codon / Q000235:genetics; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D015870:Gene Expression; D005814:Genes, Viral; D006801:Humans; D008459:Measles virus / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000472:pathogenicity; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010442:Peptide Chain Initiation, Translational; D014176:Protein Biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D014709:Vero Cells; D014763:Viral Matrix Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D014771:Virion / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D003062:Codon; D014763:Viral Matrix Proteins