ROLE OF NUCLEIC ACID IN RNA VIRUSES

描述(逐字摘自申请者摘要)：病毒颗粒执行 病毒复制周期中的一些基本功能。他们提供了 一种稳定的容器，在细胞之间的运输过程中保护基因组， 它们识别合适靶细胞表面的受体分子，它们 穿透细胞膜并释放具有生物活性的基因组 形式。这些功能的执行效率很高，而且精度提高很高 现代病毒学的一个核心问题：衣壳功能是如何在 在分子水平上？病毒衣壳执行其功能的能力是 编码在其成分的化学和物理性质中。在这 应用我们计划将重点放在核酸在病毒组装和 它对病毒粒子的结构和功能特性的影响。对这件事 最后，我们将使用以 含有诺达病毒的二十面体核糖核酸。病毒基因组传统上 被认为是相对被动的部件，除非它们参与 反映它们作为遗传信息载体的角色的过程，例如， 转录和复制。然而，越来越多的证据表明， 假设并不反映现实，至少在某些病毒中是有核的 ACID在通常与以下功能相关的功能中扮演着更为重要的角色 衣壳蛋白。我们在上一个资助期取得的成果 表明包装的NOD病毒基因组限制了病毒的动态特性 病毒粒子及其与异源RNA的替换会导致畸形 在病毒组装过程中。这些观察表明，外壳蛋白和病毒 RNA建立了一种功能对话，这种对话在整个生命周期中都保持着 病毒粒子的。理解这一对话并认识到其更广泛的 暗示不仅对病毒研究具有内在的重要性，而且 成功地进行涉及病毒的实际应用所必需的 粒子。在这项建议中，我们将继续充分利用 诺达病毒模型系统提供了独特的机会。在实验中 下面概述，我们打算阐明初始的分子细节 外壳蛋白和RNA之间的相互作用，研究相互依赖 组装过程中的两个组分并分析如何包裹蛋白质-RNA 相互作用表现在组装的物理属性中 粒子。这些研究的结果应大体上适用于 医学上重要的正链RNA病毒。

DESCRIPTION (Verbatim from Applicant's Abstract): Virus particles perform a number of essential functions during the viral replication cycle. they provide a stable container that protects the genome during transport form cell to cell, they recognize receptor molecules on the surface of suitable target cells, they penetrate cellular membranes and release the genome in a biologically active form. These functions are performed efficiently and with high precision raising a question central to modern virology: how are capsid functions regulated at the molecular level? The ability of viral capsids to perform their functions is encoded in the chemical and physical properties of their components. In this application we plan to focus on the role of nucleic acid in viral assembly and its impact on the structural and functional properties of the virion. To this end, we will use the highly developed experimental model system represented by the icosahedral RNA containing nodaviruses. Viral genomes have traditionally been considered to be relatively passive components unless they are engaged in processes that reflect their roles as carriers of genetic information, e.g., transcription and replication. There is increasing evidence, however, that this assumption does not reflect reality and that at least in some viruses nucleic acid plays a much more significant part in functions commonly associated with the capsid protein. Results that we obtained in the previous funding period indicate that the packaged nod viral genome restricts the dynamic properties of the virion and that its replacement with heterologous RNA leads to aberrations during viral assembly. These observations suggest that coat protein and viral RNA establish a functional dialogue that is maintained throughout the lifespan of the virion. Understanding this dialogue and recognizing its broader implications is not only of intrinsic importance to virus research but also required for the successful pursuit of practical applications involving virus particles. In this proposal we will continue to take full advantage of the unique opportunities afforded by the nodaviral model system. In the experiments outlined below we intend to elucidate the molecular details of the initial interactions between coat protein and RNA, investigate the mutual dependency of the two components during assembly and analyze how coat protein-RNA interactions manifest themselves in the physical properties of the assembled particle. Results from these studies should be applicable in general terms to medically important positive strand RNA viruses.