title: Measles virus L protein evidences elements of ancestral RNA polymerase.
abstract: We have determined the nucleotide sequence of the measles virus (MV) L gene using a cDNA library encompassing the entire MV genome (J. Crowley et al. (1987) Intervirology, 28, 65-77). The L gene is 6639 nucleotides in length, and contains a single long open reading frame that could code for a protein of 247,611 kDa. Both the L gene and in particular the predicted L protein of MV bear substantial homology to their counterparts in Sendai virus and Newcastle disease virus, suggesting that the multifunctional nature of paramyxovirus L proteins imposes strong evolutionary constraints. The predicted MV L protein also contains distinct elements of a postulated ancestral RNA polymerase.
authors.affiliation: Neurology Service, East Orange VA Medical Center, New Jersey 07019.
authors.forename: B M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Blumberg
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Crowley
authors.forename: J I
authors.initials: JI
authors.lastname: Silverman
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Menonna
authors.forename: S D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Cook
authors.forename: P C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Dowling
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D001483:Base Sequence; D005075:Biological Evolution; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D012321:DNA-Directed RNA Polymerases / Q000235:genetics*; D004720:Endonucleases / Q000494:pharmacology; D005814:Genes, Viral; D008459:Measles virus / Q000235:genetics*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D012324:RNA-Dependent RNA Polymerase; D012689:Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid; D015719:Single-Strand Specific DNA and RNA Endonucleases; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D014764:Viral Proteins; C040530:L protein, vesicular stomatitis virus; D012324:RNA-Dependent RNA Polymerase; D012321:DNA-Directed RNA Polymerases; D004720:Endonucleases; D015719:Single-Strand Specific DNA and RNA Endonucleases