Biochemical Implications of the Transfer of a Structural Gene between DNA and RNA Viruses.

DNA 和 RNA 病毒之间结构基因转移的生化意义。

• 批准号: 2025305
• 负责人: Kenneth Stedman
• 金额: $ 30万
• 依托单位: Portland State University
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2020
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2020-08-15 至 2023-07-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=2025305&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Biochemical; Implications; Transfer; Structural; Gene

The recently-discovered Cruciviruses are viruses that appear to have evolved by unexpected gene swapping between DNA and RNA viruses. This project will investigate this gene swapping by examining how a RNA virus coat protein can encapsidate DNA instead. The project will provide a platform for career development for young scientists, in particular those from underrepresented groups. Furthermore, results from this project will be integrated into outreach to the general public. This research will shed light onto virus origins and how viruses evolve and has potential impacts for nanotechnology.This project will focus on the characterization of capsids of cruciviruses and related RNA viruses, using standard molecular techniques and electron microscopy to detect differences in encapsidation of DNA versus RNA. While the capsid of cruciviruses and closely related RNA viruses could have the ability to package both DNA and RNA, further adaptations may have occurred to optimize the packaging of one nucleic acid type versus the other. The study of the biochemical properties of the capsid of cruciviruses will expand our knowledge on the phenotypic plasticity of virus encapsidation, reveal possible packaging determinants for DNA versus RNA, and provide insight into the evolutionary history of cruciviruses. Moreover, this research will provide proof-of-principle data for the elucidation of the enigmatic crucivirus host.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.

最近发现的十字病毒似乎是通过DNA和RNA病毒之间意想不到的基因交换而进化的病毒。 这个项目将通过研究RNA病毒外壳蛋白如何替代DNA来研究这种基因交换。该项目将为青年科学家，特别是代表性不足群体的青年科学家提供职业发展平台。此外，该项目的成果将纳入对公众的外联活动。这项研究将揭示病毒的起源和病毒如何进化，并对纳米技术产生潜在的影响。该项目将集中于描述十字病毒和相关RNA病毒的衣壳，使用标准分子技术和电子显微镜来检测DNA与RNA在衣壳化方面的差异。虽然十字病毒和密切相关的RNA病毒的衣壳可能具有包装DNA和RNA的能力，但可能已经发生了进一步的适应以优化一种核酸类型相对于另一种核酸类型的包装。研究十字病毒衣壳的生化特性将扩大我们对病毒衣壳化的表型可塑性的认识，揭示DNA与RNA的可能包装决定因素，并提供深入了解十字病毒的进化历史。此外，这项研究将为阐明神秘的十字病毒宿主提供原理验证数据。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

项目成果

Astrovirology: Expanding the Search for Life

天体病毒学：扩大对生命的探索

• DOI: 10.3847/25c2cfeb.b072d157
• 发表时间: 2021
• 期刊: Bulletin of the AAS
• 作者: Trubl, Gareth;Stedman, Kenneth;Bywaters, Kathryn;Boston, Penelope J.;Kaelber, Jason T.;Roux, Simon;Emerson, Joanne B.;Breitbart, Mya;Yin, John;Janjic, Aleksandar
• 通讯作者: Janjic, Aleksandar