). To gain further insight into these molecular interactions, we analyzed the virion-associated GAPDH and La protein using two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and immunoblotting. The GAPDH was resolved into two major and one minor molecular species migrating in the pI range of 7.6 to 8.3, while the La protein was resolved into five molecular species in the pI range of 6.8 to 7.5. The GAPDH isoforms present in the virions were also detected in the cytoplasmic fraction of CV-1 cell extract, albeit as minor species. On the other hand, the multiple molecular forms of La protein as seen within the virions were readily detected in the total CV-1 cell extract. Further analysis of virion-associated GAPDH by in vivo labeling with [ 32 P]orthophosphate revealed the presence of multiple phosphorylated species. The phosphorylated species were able to bind specifically to the viral cis-acting 3 genome sense RNA but failed to bind to the leader sense RNA, as determined by gel mobility shift assay. In contrast, the La protein isoforms present within the virions were not phosphorylated and bound to the viral cis-acting RNAs in a phosphorylation-independent manner. The GAPDH isoforms purified from the CV-1 cell cytoplasmic fraction inhibited viral transcription in vitro. Consistent with this, flag-tagged recombinant GAPDH synthesized by using the vaccinia virus expression system also inhibited viral transcription. Together, these data indicate that specific phosphorylated forms of GAPDH associate with HPIV3 and are involved in the regulation of virus gene expression.Human parainfluenza virus type 3 (HPIV3), a paramyxovirus, is second only to respiratory syncytial virus in causing severe respiratory tract infections in children and young adults (6). The single-stranded RNA genome of HPIV3, 15,461 nucleotides (nt) long, is contained within a helical nucleocapsid (15). Three virus-encoded proteins, the nucleocapsid protein N (68 kDa), the phosphoprotein P (90 kDa), and the RNA polymerase L (257 kDa), are associated with the nucleocapsid to form a transcribing ribonucleoprotein (RNP) complex (1, 15). The N protein enwraps the genome RNA, while the L and P proteins together constitute the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase complex that transcribes and replicates the N-bound genome RNA. During transcription, the RNA polymerase synthesizes a short leader RNA, followed by six capped and polyadenylated mRNAs. During replication, on the other hand, a full-length plus-strand copy of the genome RNA is synthesized which, in turn, serves as the template for synthesis of the minus-strand genome RNA (1, 6, 15). Studies from our laboratory, as well as others, indicate that cellular cytoskeletal proteins such as actin and tubulin are involved in the activation of transcription of several paramyxoviruses (4,9,12,22,34,35). Similarly, cellular RNA binding proteins that interact with the viral cis-acting elements are believed to be involved in the regulation of transcription and replication (25,26,28).The minus-sense genomic 3Ј end and its complementary l...