Localization of nucleocapsid associated polypeptides in measles virus-infected cells by immunogold labelling after resin embedding.

The nucleo-, phospho- and matrix protein of measles virus were localized at high resolution within infected cells by use of post-embedding immunogold labelling techniques. In general, labelling with monospecific antibodies as well as with a polyvalent rabbit anti-measles hyperimmune antiserum revealed measles virus polypeptides to be distributed non-randomly within infected cells with the label largely confined to specific sites, namely inclusions of nucleocapsids and assembled virus structures at the plasma membrane. Immunogold double labelling indicated that the phosphoprotein strictly co-localized with the nucleoprotein in cytoplasmic inclusions of nucleocapsids and in budding virions, whereas intranuclear inclusions of nucleocapsids were devoid of phosphoprotein labelling. Antibodies to the matrix protein clearly labelled assembled virus structures at the plasma membrane but exhibited no significant cytoplasmic or intranuclear reaction. The data indicate that the composition of nucleocapsids varies with the cellular compartment with which they are associated, supporting the view of a rapid assembly of paramyxovirus nucleocapsid polypeptides, and emphasize the proposed selective role of the matrix protein in virus assembly and budding at the plasma membrane.