The Chemical Basis of Viral Assembly and Disassembly

Mark Young（蒙大拿州立大学）病毒组装和拆卸的化学基础本研究使用豇豆绿斑病毒（CCMV）作为一种独特的模型系统，以确定蛋白质-蛋白质和蛋白质- rna相互作用在病毒组装、成熟和拆卸过程中所起的详细化学作用。CCMV是一种二十面体病毒，由四组分正意义链RNA基因组和含有180个相同外壳蛋白亚基的衣壳组成，每个亚基为19.8KD。本提案的具体目标是：(1)确定作为调节病毒粒子结构和稳定性的分子决定因素的关键病毒rna -外壳蛋白和外壳蛋白-外壳相互作用；(2)确定外壳蛋白的n端从病毒粒子内部到病毒粒子外部进行结构转变的能力，以便在病毒粒子拆卸过程中形成病毒粒子RNA通过的通道。实验方法结合了分子和结构工具。基因突变改变了病毒粒子的结构和稳定性，并在体内和体外检测了它们对病毒粒子组装和拆卸的影响，从而鉴定出关键成分。该研究结果将对广泛的动物、植物和昆虫病毒具有重要意义，并应为预防病毒感染的策略提供基础。2. 了解蛋白质-蛋白质和蛋白质-核酸相互作用的化学基础是现代生物学的主要目标之一。病毒粒子的组装、成熟和拆卸特别适合于确定这些相互作用的基本原理。本研究的目的是确定病毒组装和拆卸过程中发生的详细分子相互作用如何影响和调节病毒的感染性。球形豇豆褪绿斑驳病毒是本研究项目的主题。生化和结构的方法来分析基因突变被用来确定关键成分。这些发现应该有助于了解病毒是如何形成和破坏的，并为设计防止病毒感染动植物的策略提供必要的信息。

MCB 9723752 Mark Young (Montana State University) The Chemical Basis of Viral Assembly and Disassembly ABSTRACT 1. Technical This study uses the cowpea chlorotic mottle virus (CCMV), a member of the bromovirus group of the Bromoviridea family, as a unique model system to determine the detailed chemical role protein-protein and protein-RNA interactions play in the assembly, maturation, and disassembly processes of a virus. An icosahedral virus, CCMV is constituted by a four component positive sense stranded RNA genome and capsids containing 180 identical coat protein subunits, each of 19.8KD. The specific objectives of this proposal are to: (1) Determine the critical viral RNA-coat protein and coat protein-coat interactions that act as molecular determinants regulating virion architecture and stability; and (2) Determine the ability of the N-terminus of the coat protein to undergo a structural transition from the interior of the virion to the exterior of the virion in order to form a channel for the passage of virion RNA during disassembly. The experimental approach combines molecular and structural tools. Genetic mutations with altered virion architecture and stability are generated and examined for their effect on virion assembly and disassembly in vitro and in vivo, so that critical components can be identified. The results of this research will have significant implications for a broad range of animal, plant, and insect viruses and should provide the basis for strategies for preventing viral infections. 2. Non-technical Understanding the chemical basis of protein-protein and protein-nucleic acid interactions is one of the major goals of modern biology. Virion assembly, maturation, and disassembly is particularly suitable for determining the underlying principles of these interactions. The objective of this study is to determine how the detailed molecular interactions occurring during virus assembly and disassembly influence and regulate virus infectivity. The spherical , cowpea chlorotic mottle virus is the subject of this research project. Biochemical and structural approaches to the analysis of genetic mutants are used to identify the critical components. The findings should contribute to the basic knowledge of how viruses are formed and disrupted, and provide essential information for the design of strategies to prevent viral infection to plants and animals.