The goal of this proposal is to examine the regulation of replication and gene expression of the tobacco mosaic virus(TMV) as a representative of viruses that express genes through subgenomic mRNAs. A series of systems has been developed that provide altered replication and altered gene expression that can be utilized to dissect mechanisms of regulation. The experimenters will focus on regulation of the 30K and coat protein genes. The regulation of replication will be examined through the use of a two component system. The promoters of the regulated genes will be dissected. The replication parameters will be determined by using variations of the 2 component system. Understanding the regulation and replication of this model virus will provide useful information relevant to other viruses that use sub genomic RNAs.
