Cloning of DNA corresponding to four different measles virus genomic regions.

Hybrid plasmids containing sequences corresponding to four different regions of the measles virus genome inserted in pBR322 were obtained by use of polyadenylated 50 S viral RNA as template for reverse transcription. One class of plasmids contains inserts corresponding to the 3' terminal region of the virus genome. The sequence of one of these inserts (605 nucleotides) partially overlaps with the cloned cDNA sequence corresponding to a part of the nucleocapsid protein (N) mRNA (M. Gorecki and S. Rozenblatt (1980). Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 77, 3686-3690). This insert region shows only one long open reading frame defining the N-terminal part of the nucleocapsid protein. The nucleocapsid protein mRNA starts at about 60 nucleotides from the genome end as revealed by nuclease S1 mapping. Three other classes of plasmid clones contain inserts derived from unidentified regions of the viral genome; they hybridize with viral mRNA species less abundant than those from which cDNA clones have been isolated so far (S. Rozenblatt, C. Gesang, V. Lavie, and F. S. Neumann (1982) J. Virol. 42, 790-797.