Measles virus gene expression in subacute sclerosing panencephalitis.
RNA was extracted from the diseased brain of a case of human subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE) and analysed for the expression of measles-specific RNA. Measles virus-specific mRNAs were present, but the amount of matrix (M) protein mRNA was greatly reduced in comparison to lytically infected cells and phospho- (P) protein mRNA was hardly detectable whereas the level of the corresponding intermediate-sized (is-) RNA was greatly increased. RNA obtained from the human brain was also translated in vitro and measles virus nucleocapsid and P protein was produced. However, in marked contrast to control reactions M protein was not detected in the products formed by translation in vitro. These results indicate an impaired measles virus M protein mRNA synthesis in infected brain tissue.
D000293:Adolescent; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D001923:Brain Chemistry; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008459:Measles virus / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000502:physiology; D014176:Protein Biosynthesis; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D013344:Subacute Sclerosing Panencephalitis / Q000382:microbiology*; D014763:Viral Matrix Proteins; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D014776:Virus Cultivation; D014779:Virus Replication
D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D012367:RNA, Viral; D014763:Viral Matrix Proteins; D014764:Viral Proteins