The complete nucleotide sequence of the gene encoding the matrix protein (M) of the avian paramyxovirus, serotype 3b (APMV-3b), has been determined by means of the direct sequencing of viral RNA using reverse transcriptase reaction. The adjacent portions of the neighboring phosphoprotein (P) and fusion (F) protein genes were also sequenced that permitted to determine the consensus sequence of the viral genome, the poly(A) tract, downstream and upstream non-coding portions of the P and F genes, respectively, as well as the corresponding intergenic regions. The gene is 1478 nucleotides long with a protein-coding sequence of 1194 nucleotides. The deduced protein consists of 398 amino acids with a calculated MW 44,465. According to the multalignment and phylogenetic analyses, the APMV-3b M protein has shown the closest relatedness towards Newcastle disease virus (NDV) which has recently been suggested to be excluded from the Rubulavirus genus and assigned (together with APMV-6) to a new Avulavirus genus within the subfamily Paramyxovirinae of the Paramyxoviridae family. On the basis of the M protein genetic multalignment, phylogenetic relationships, bipartite nuclear localization signal identification in combination with the cysteine residues distribution, and by the degree of intrageneric heterogeneity, the APMV-3b is proposed to be another member (together with NDV and APMV-6) of the new genus.
La sequence nucleotidique complete du gene codant pour la proteine de la matrice d'un paramyxovirus aviaire, serotype 3b (APMV-3b) a ete determinee par sequencage direct de l'ARN viral a l'aide d'une reaction 'reverse transcriptase'. Les regions adjacentes des genes de la phosphoproteine (P) et de la proteine de fusion (F) ont aussi ete sequencee afin de determiner la sequence consensuelle du genome viral, de la zone poly(A), des regions non codantes en amont et en aval des genes P et F respectivement, ainsi que les regions correspondantes entre ces differents genes. Le gene est constitue de 1478 nucleotides dont une region codante de 1194 nucleotides. La proteine deduite est formee de 398 amino acides et a un poids moleculaire estime de 44,465. Selon l'alignement multiple et l'analyse de l'arbre phylogenetique, la proteine M de l'APMV-3b montre la plus grande proximite avec le virus de la maladie de Newcastle (NDV) qui a ete recemment propose pour etre transfere du genre Rubulavirus au nouveau genre Avulavirus (avec APMV-6) au sein de la sous-famille Paramyxovirinae de la famille Paramyxoviridae. Basee sur l'alignement multiple, l'arbre phylogenetique, l'identification du signal de localisation nucleaire 'bipartite' en combinaison avec la distribution de residus cysteine et le degree d'heterogeneite interne au genre, le APMV-3b est donc propose comme autre membre du nouveau genre (avec NDV et APMV-6).