STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION OF POXVIRUS GENES

这些研究的长期目标是确定 影响痘病毒基因表达的调控。这项工作将 包括对转录控制、翻译 控制，mRNA的稳定性，以及病毒基因产物对 宿主细胞和宿主动物。具体而言，以下将是 调查：1。晚期mRNA的5 '-poly（A）前导序列的产生， 以及这些前导序列对翻译效率的影响， mRNA稳定性 2.晚期的确定的3 '-末端的产生 某些强表达基因的mRNA;这些3 '-末端的影响 下游转录单位的形成。 3.调控 编码病毒第二大亚单位的基因的表达 依赖DNA的RNA聚合酶。该分股的职能还将 接受检查。 4. 38 K基因在中间时期的表达 在病毒复制周期中。其基因产物在 蛋白酶的抑制及其对病毒-宿主相互作用的影响 也将被调查。 标准生化和遗传程序，包括定点 诱变程序和新的遗传互补系统，将 用于实现这些目标。将利用独特的 痘病毒的特性。 这些研究将有助于我们对分子事件的理解 通常参与真核生物基因表达的调节， 尤其是痘病毒。病毒DNA依赖性RNA的研究 聚合酶，其结构类似于真核RNA 聚合酶对38 K基因产物的研究将促进我们的 了解病毒-宿主相互作用导致出血或 白细胞在感染部位聚集。另外这些 研究将帮助我们开发更有效的痘病毒表达 媒介，并有助于发展安全和有效的 痘病毒衍生疫苗。

The long-term objectives of these studies are to determine the mechanisms effecting the regulation of poxvirus gene expression. This work will include studies on aspects of transcriptional control, translational control, mRNA stability, and the effects of viral gene products on the host cell and the host animal. Specifically, the following will be investigated: 1. The generation of the 5'-poly(A) leaders of late mRNAs, and the effect of these leader sequences on translational efficiency and mRNA stability. 2. The generation of the defined 3'-ends of the late mRNAs of certain strongly-expressed genes; the effect of these 3'-end formation on downstream transcription units. 3. The regulation of expression of the gene encoding the second-largest sub-unit of the viral DNA- dependent RNA polymerase. The functions of this sub-unit will also be examined. 4. The expression of the 38K gene at intermediate times during the viral replication cycle. The role of its gene product in the inhibition of proteinases, and its effect on the virus-host interaction will also be investigated. Standard biochemical and genetic procedures, including site-directed mutagenesis procedures and a novel genetic complementation system, will be used to achieve these goals. Advantage will be taken of the unique properties of the poxviruses. These studies will contribute to our understanding of molecular events involved in the regulation of gene expression in eukaryotes in general, and in poxviruses in particular. Studies on the viral DNA-dependent RNA polymerase, which is structurally similar to the eukaryotic RNA polymerases. Studies on the 38K gene's product should advance our understanding of virus-host interactions resulting in hemorrhage or leukocyte accumulation at the site of the infection. In addition, these studies will help us to develop more efficient poxvirus expression vectors, and contribute to the development of safe and effective poxvirus-derived vaccines.