Molecular cloning and sequence analysis of the mumps virus gene encoding the P protein: mumps virus P gene is monocistronic.

The nucleotide sequence of the P (phosphoprotein) gene of two strains of mumps virus has been determined from overlapping cDNA clones. The P gene contained a single open reading frame coding for a protein of 391 amino acids with a calculated Mr of 41,587, in good agreement with the value (40K to 45K) estimated from electrophoretic mobility on SDS-polyacrylamide gels. No open reading frame analogous to the C gene of other paramyxoviruses existed in the mumps virus P gene region. Comparison of the amino acid sequence of the mumps virus P protein with that of Newcastle disease virus showed a limited sequence homology.