The nucleotide sequences of M and F genes from a field strain of peste des petits ruminants virus (PPRV) ("China/Tib/Gej/07-30") was firstly determined. The M gene was 1 483 nucleotides in length with a single open reading frame (ORF), encoding a protein of 335 amino acids. The F gene was 2411 nucleotides in length, encoding a protein of 546 amino acids. The resulting nucleotide sequence and the deduced amino acid sequences were compared with the homologous regions of other PPRV isolates. The nucleotide sequences of M and F genes of the "China/Tib/Gej/07-30" was 92.4%-97.7% and 85.5%-96.1% identical to other PPRV isolates, respectively, while a homology of 97.0%-98.2% and 94.3%-98.2% could be observed at the amino acids level respectively. Several sequence motifs in the M and F genes had been identified on the basis of conservation in the PPRVs and the morbilliviruses. The 3' untranslated region of M gene was 443 nucleotides in length with 82.4%-93.5% identical to other PPRV isolates. The 5' untranslated region of F gene was 634 nucleotides in length with 76.2%-91.7% identical to other PPRV isolates.