Characterization of in vitro transcription and transcriptional products of measles virus.

Ribonucleoprotein complexes isolated from measles virus-infected HeLa cells contained an RNA-dependent RNA polymerase activity that catalyzed the incorporation of ribonucleotides into ribonucleic acid. The ribonucleoprotein complexes were composed of measles virus nucleoprotein, phosphoprotein, and a large protein, as well as viral RNA. The kinetics of RNA synthesis at different temperatures, time intervals, and protein, ribonucleotide, and mono- and divalent cation concentrations were analyzed. Enzyme activity was maximum at 4 h at 25 degrees C in the presence of 100 mM Na+-2.5 mM Mg2+-1 mM ribonucleotides. Actinomycin D and alpha-amanitin had no effect on the enzyme activity. Addition of cytoplasmic extracts from uninfected HeLa cells to the reaction mixture did not increase the incorporation of ribonucleotides into RNA. The in vitro synthesized RNAs were characterize by slot blot analysis and quantitated by densitometer scanning. All mRNAs coding for the structural proteins of measles virus were synthesized. Nucleoprotein RNA was the most abundant species made, followed by phosphoprotein, hemagglutinin, fusion protein, matrix protein, and large-protein RNAs. The system described here resulted in the first efficient transcription of measles virus RNA and analysis of products.