Abstract

In this study, it is indicated that the bias of synonymous codon usage of Peste des Petits Ruminants virus (PPRV) gene is lower without intra-specific performance through analysis on PPRV gene synonymous codon usage. The virus has interspecies codon usage specific performance in Morbillivirus. PPRV synonymous codon usage pattern is mainly caused by genetic base, the changes of codon usage bias are mainly caused by pressure of gene mutations. Meanwhile, the gene function also determines PPRV codon usage to some extent. However, the gene length and translation stress have no influence on codon usage patterns in genes of the virus. The codon usage bias pattern of PPRV that we analyzed plays an important role for understanding the evolution process of the virus, in particular to understanding the role of mutation and selection in this process.

Key words: Peste des petits ruminants virus, synonymous codon usage, mutational bias, base composition.