Functional cDNA library for efficient expression of measles virus-specific gene products in primate cells.

A cDNA library designed for high-level expression of measles virus-specific gene products in mammalian cells was generated. From this library, functional clones which contained the entire protein-coding sequences of the nucleocapsid (N) and the phosphoprotein (P) genes were isolated. By DNA-mediated gene transfer into a line of simian virus 40-transformed monkey kidney cells, the N-specific cDNA was expressed into a single polypeptide of about 60,000 Mr, which was immunoprecipitated by monoclonal antibodies against the measles virus N protein. In contrast, the P-specific cDNA could be expressed into either one or two species of polypeptides of 75,000 or 70,000 Mr, both of which were immunoprecipitated by monoclonal antibodies against the measles virus P protein.