Transcriptional mapping of rabies virus in vivo.

Synthesis of the proteins of rabies virus was studied in hamster cells infected with UV-irradiated virus. The UV target size of genes L, N, M1, and M2 was measured during primary transcription. Except for N, the target size of the remaining genes was considerably larger than that of their physical sizes. The data fit the hypothesis that four genes occupy a single transcriptional unit and that transcription of rabies virus proceeds in the order N, M1, M2, and L.