Editing of morbillivirus P gene transcripts in infected animals

RNA editing in the Morbillivirus genus in vivo was investigated by applying a polymerase chain reaction-based primer extension technique to measure the edited and non-edited mRNA transcripts. In this genus of the Paramyxoviridae the P gene transcript is altered by the co-transcriptional addition of one extra G residue to produce the mRNA for the V non-structural protein. Using tissues of phocine distemper virus (PDV) infected seals, canine distemper virus (CDV) infected dogs and rinderpest virus (RPV) infected cattle, it was demonstrated that editing occurs in vivo. The P:V mRNA ratios were generally similar to those found in tissue culture infections with the same virus and a minor fraction of transcripts had 2-4 extra G residues. In one seal brain infected with PDV the ratio of P:V mRNA was reversed but no differences were found in the levels of mRNA editing in different tissues from the same animal infected with CDV or RPV. However, variation was seen between animals infected with different isolates of RPV and even between animals infected with the same isolate of RPV.