Analysis of a ribosome-binding 3' translational enhancer in a plus-strand RNA virus

智力优势。 从病毒到人类，所有生物都必须通过蛋白质合成（翻译）过程从基因组合成蛋白质。植物病毒特别有趣，因为它们必须与宿主细胞竞争有限的翻译因子而不杀死细胞。 对植物病毒的研究已经揭示，RNA基因组的最远离翻译开始处的末端（3'末端）是将翻译组分吸引到基因组的关键区域，导致显著增强的翻译。 最近发现一种具有RNA基因组的病毒，豌豆enation mosaic病毒的3'区含有吸引核糖体（中心蛋白质合成机器）的翻译增强子，并且可以通过帮助核糖体在基因组翻译后再循环来发挥作用。 此外，该翻译增强子还参与与病毒另一端（5'端）附近的另一元件的长距离连接。 该项目将研究这种翻译增强子如何与核糖体相互作用，以及核糖体是否可以通过同时与3'和5' RNA元件相互作用来“桥接”病毒基因组的末端。 由于病毒基因组不能同时复制和翻译，这项研究还将研究病毒如何在这些不相容的活动之间切换。 最后，这项研究将探索宿主植物基因组包含类似的核糖体结合元件的可能性，这些元件可以增强宿主RNA的翻译。 开发3'区域如何参与翻译的新范例将促使其他研究人员正确地检查他们的基因或病毒的3'翻译增强子，这将在翻译领域发生变革。 通过了解这些翻译增强子的功能，在设计新的方法以在植物中生产更高水平的产品以改善农业性状时，应该可以将它们包括在内。 更广泛的影响。这项研究将由研究生和博士后研究人员进行，他们将学习最先进的技术和模型构建，以提高他们作为科学家的发展。本科研究人员也将参与这个项目的各个方面，了解科学发现的兴奋。 对基于研究的发现的热情将继续每周传达给马里兰州王子乔治县DuVal高中（98%为少数民族）的高级安置高中学生和教师，其中一些学生已经受益于被顶尖学院/大学录取并主修STEM科目。 首席研究员还将继续有效地代表科学和科学家向公众，最近作为一个顾问的发现电视连续剧和参与活动，如周六上午在托莱多大学的科学节目。 从这项研究的具体例子也将被用来激发和提高学生的教育经验，在他们的第一年作为科学专业在马里兰州大学通过由首席研究员讲授的生物学入门课程。

Intellectual Merit. All organisms, from viruses to man, must synthesize proteins from their genomes by the process of protein synthesis (translation). Plant viruses are especially intriguing, as they must compete with their host cells for limited translation factors without killing the cell. Research on plant viruses has revealed that the end of the RNA genome most distal to where translation begins (the 3' end) is a critical region for attracting components of translation to the genome, leading to substantially enhanced translation. The 3' region of one virus with an RNA genome, Pea enation mosaic virus, was recently found to contain a translational enhancer that attracts ribosomes, the central protein synthesizing machines, and may function by helping ribosomes recycle following genome translation. In addition, this translational enhancer also participates in a long-distance joining with another element near the other end (the 5' end) of the virus. This project will examine how this translational enhancer interacts with ribosomes and whether ribosomes can "bridge" the ends of the viral genome by interacting simultaneously with both 3' and 5' RNA elements. Since viral genomes cannot be replicated and translated at the same time, this research will also investigate how the virus switches between these incompatible activities. Finally, the research will explore the possibility that the host plant's genome contains similar ribosome-binding elements that enhance translation of host RNAs. Developing new paradigms for how the 3' region participates in translation will prompt other investigators to correctly examine their genes or viruses for 3' translational enhancers, which will be transformative in the translation field. By understanding how these translational enhancers function, it should be possible to include them when designing new ways to produce higher levels of products in plants for improvement of agricultural traits. Broader Impacts. This research will be conducted by graduate and postdoctoral researchers, who will learn state-of-the art techniques and model-building to enhance their development as scientists. Undergraduate researchers will also participate in all aspects of this project, learning about the excitement of scientific discoveries. Enthusiasm for research-based discovery will continue to be conveyed weekly to Advanced Placement high school students and teachers at DuVal High School (98% minority) in Prince George's County, Maryland, with several students already benefiting by being accepted at top colleges/universities and majoring in STEM subjects. The principal investigator will also continue to effectively represent science and scientists to the public, most recently as a consultant for a Discovery TV Series and participation in activities such as the Saturday morning science program at the University of Toledo. Specific examples from this research will also be used to excite and enhance the education experience of students in their first year as science majors at the University of Maryland through an introductory biology course taught by the principal investigator.