Nucleotide sequence of the phosphoprotein (P) gene of Newcastle disease virus (strain Beaudette C).

The phosphoprotein, or P protein, of Newcastle disease virus is required for transcription of the viral genome (1) and is the major product of the P gene (2). The cDNA for the complete P gene of Newcastle disease virus (strain Beaudette C) was cloned and sequenced in both directions by using Bal-3 1 and restriction endonuclease subcloning. The largest open reading frame of the P gene codes for a protein of 395 amino acids with a calculated molecular weight of 42,241. The Beaudette C strain is mesogenic,