The molecular mechanisms involved in the replication of poliovirus RNA will be examined in this study. We plan to identify viral and cellular proteins and viral RNA sequences that are important in the initiation of RNA synthesis, the binding of the polymerase, and the linkage of VPg to the RNA. The poliovirus RNA polymerase requires an oligonucleotide primer or a cellular host factor to initiate RNA synthesis. Dimer-sized product RNA is synthesized by the polymerase in the presence of the host factor. At least two host factor activities have been identified. The host factor associated with terminal uridylyl transferase activity will be extensively purified and used to study the initiation of RNA synthesis in vitro. Poliovirus cDNA clones will be constructed in transcription vectors to prepare viral RNA transcripts of different polarities and containing various deletions and other mutations. We will characterize the structure of the product RNAs synthesized by the polymerase and host factor (TUT, etc.) on both (+) and (-) strand specific templates and will determine the sequence in the joint region of dimer-sized product RNAs. The linkage of VPg to poliovirus RNA will be studied to determine if this involves a cleavage reaction and if specific viral RNA sequences are required for this reaction. Modified VPg with an altered amino acid sequence and VPg precursor proteins will be assayed for linkage activity. The synthesis of dimer-sized poliovirus RNA in infected cells will be further characterized. We will determine if the synthesis of dimer-sized RNA is increased in cells infected with certain viral mutants and if guanidine HCl affects the synthesis of dimer-sized RNA. The binding of the polymerase to viral RNA will be examined to determine if high affinity binding sites for the polymerase exist in (+) and (-) strand viral RNAs. The optimal conditions for binding will be determined and other viral and cellular proteins will be tested for their ability to affect binding. A final objective of the study is to quantitate the polymerase error frequency both in vitro and in vivo. The polymerase error frequency will be measured at various sites in poliovirus RNA under different reaction conditions. The results of this study should give us a better understanding of the molecular basis of poliovirus RNA replication.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01AI015539-11
Application #
3126232
Study Section
Experimental Virology Study Section (EVR)
Project Start
1979-09-01
Project End
1993-02-28
Budget Start
1989-03-01
Budget End
1990-02-28
Support Year
11
Fiscal Year
1989
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Florida
Department
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
073130411
City
Gainesville
State
FL
Country
United States
Zip Code
32611
Spear, Allyn; Ogram, Sushma A; Morasco, B Joan et al. (2015) Viral precursor protein P3 and its processed products perform discrete and essential functions in the poliovirus RNA replication complex. Virology 485:492-501
Ogram, Sushma A; Boone, Christopher D; McKenna, Robert et al. (2014) Amiloride inhibits the initiation of Coxsackievirus and poliovirus RNA replication by inhibiting VPg uridylylation. Virology 464-465:87-97
Ogram, Sushma A; Flanegan, James B (2011) Non-template functions of viral RNA in picornavirus replication. Curr Opin Virol 1:339-46
Ogram, Sushma A; Spear, Allyn; Sharma, Nidhi et al. (2010) The 5'CL-PCBP RNP complex, 3' poly(A) tail and 2A(pro) are required for optimal translation of poliovirus RNA. Virology 397:14-22
Spear, Allyn; Sharma, Nidhi; Flanegan, James Bert (2008) Protein-RNA tethering: the role of poly(C) binding protein 2 in poliovirus RNA replication. Virology 374:280-91
Silvestri, Lynn S; Parilla, Jessica M; Morasco, B Joan et al. (2006) Relationship between poliovirus negative-strand RNA synthesis and the length of the 3' poly(A) tail. Virology 345:509-19
Jurgens, Christy K; Barton, David J; Sharma, Nidhi et al. (2006) 2Apro is a multifunctional protein that regulates the stability, translation and replication of poliovirus RNA. Virology 345:346-57
Sharma, Nidhi; O'Donnell, Brian J; Flanegan, James B (2005) 3'-Terminal sequence in poliovirus negative-strand templates is the primary cis-acting element required for VPgpUpU-primed positive-strand initiation. J Virol 79:3565-77
Barton, D J; O'Donnell, B J; Flanegan, J B (2001) 5' cloverleaf in poliovirus RNA is a cis-acting replication element required for negative-strand synthesis. EMBO J 20:1439-48
Barton, D J; Morasco, B J; Flanegan, J B (1999) Translating ribosomes inhibit poliovirus negative-strand RNA synthesis. J Virol 73:10104-12

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