The long-term objectives of this research are to learn more about protein functions that underlie cytomegalovirus (CMV) replication, and to contribute to the development of new strategies for diagnosing and treating CMV-related diseases of man. In this application for renewed support, two sets of studies are proposed. The first is a continuation of ongoing work to learn more about specific proteins already under investigation. The second will exploit leads generated during the last grant period to learn more about several less well characterized proteins. Among the proteins being studied in more detail in ongoing work are two nonviron DNA-binding proteins that are expressed early during virus replication; a virion tegument phosphoprotein that elicits a strong response in man; an unusual protein that appears to be intimately associated with capsid assembly; and an envelope glycoprotein whose processing may be coupled with nucleocapsid envelopment. Proteins of more exploratory interest include three intrinsic capsid proteins whose structural role is unknown; two presumptive tegument proteins; and an acidic envelope glycoprotein that is highly O-glycosylated and may have been overlooked because of its poor antigenicity.
The specific aims are to (i) use existing and additional antisera to determine the location, intermolecular associations, and relatedness of these proteins; (ii) prepare antibodies to several less well studies proteins of interest for use in their further characterization; and (iii) use these antibodies in conjunction with lambda gt11 expression vector libraries to identify, map, and study CMV genes coding for proteins of interest. Procedures used will include protein and peptide purification; antibody production; antibody assays by immunofluorescence and immunoelectronmicroscopy, immunoprecipitation, and """"""""Towbin-type"""""""" gel replica immunoassay; infectivity analyses; and recombinant DNA methodologies for producing, propagating, and characterizing specific fragments of the CMV genome.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01AI022711-08
Application #
3134216
Study Section
Virology Study Section (VR)
Project Start
1985-08-01
Project End
1995-05-31
Budget Start
1992-08-01
Budget End
1993-05-31
Support Year
8
Fiscal Year
1992
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
Johns Hopkins University
Department
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
045911138
City
Baltimore
State
MD
Country
United States
Zip Code
21218
Margulies, B J; Browne, H; Gibson, W (1996) Identification of the human cytomegalovirus G protein-coupled receptor homologue encoded by UL33 in infected cells and enveloped virus particles. Virology 225:111-25
Greis, K D; Gibson, W; Hart, G W (1994) Site-specific glycosylation of the human cytomegalovirus tegument basic phosphoprotein (UL32) at serine 921 and serine 952. J Virol 68:8339-49
Gibson, W; Welch, A R; Ludford, J M (1994) Transient transfection assay of the herpesvirus maturational proteinase, assemblin. Methods Enzymol 244:399-411
Welch, A R; McNally, L M; Hall, M R et al. (1993) Herpesvirus proteinase: site-directed mutagenesis used to study maturational, release, and inactivation cleavage sites of precursor and to identify a possible catalytic site serine and histidine. J Virol 67:7360-72
Schenk, P; Woods, A S; Gibson, W (1991) The 45-kilodalton protein of cytomegalovirus (Colburn) B-capsids is an amino-terminal extension form of the assembly protein. J Virol 65:1525-9
Welch, A R; Woods, A S; McNally, L M et al. (1991) A herpesvirus maturational proteinase, assemblin: identification of its gene, putative active site domain, and cleavage site. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 88:10792-6
Welch, A R; McNally, L M; Gibson, W (1991) Cytomegalovirus assembly protein nested gene family: four 3'-coterminal transcripts encode four in-frame, overlapping proteins. J Virol 65:4091-100
Gibson, W; McNally, L M; Benveniste, R E et al. (1990) Evidence that HIV-1 gag precursor shares antigenic sites with the major capsid protein of human cytomegalovirus. Virology 175:595-9
Gibson, W; Marcy, A I; Comolli, J C et al. (1990) Identification of precursor to cytomegalovirus capsid assembly protein and evidence that processing results in loss of its carboxy-terminal end. J Virol 64:1241-9
Robson, L; Gibson, W (1989) Primate cytomegalovirus assembly protein: genome location and nucleotide sequence. J Virol 63:669-76

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