Abstract

The overall goal of our research project is to understand how virus-encoded information determines infectivity, host range and other interactions of mRNA viruses with their hosts. We are particularly interested in the molecular mechanisms by which recombination processes between genomic RNAs provide these viruses with some special means for their flexibility and rapid evolution. In this project we will contribute to the understanding of recombination processes in multipartite mRNA viruses. We will study three closely related model bromoviruses: brome mosaic virus, cowpea chlorotic mottle virus and broad bean mottle virus. By using various bromoviral RNA mutants, we will investigate recombination in whole plants and in plant protoplasts. Homologous recombination between various bromoviral RNA components will be studied using infectious mutations in both coding and noncoding regions. To investigate sequence and structural factors which determine recombination, the sites of recombination will be localized over bromoviral RNA genome and sequences around these sites will be characterized. Experiments will be undertaken to elucidate at what stage of RNA synthesis the recombination occurs. The primary importance of this work lies in its impact on fundamental virology and biology; the results are directly applicable for other RNA viruses infecting both animals and plants.

  Funding Agency

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01AI026769-03
Application #
3140706
Study Section
Virology Study Section (VR)
Project Start
1990-04-01
Project End
1995-03-31
Budget Start
1992-04-01
Budget End
1993-03-31
Support Year
3
Fiscal Year
1992
Total Cost
Indirect Cost

  Institution

Name
Northern Illinois University
Department
Type
Schools of Arts and Sciences
DUNS #
City
De Kalb
State
IL
Country
United States
Zip Code
60115

  Publications

Bruyere, A; Wantroba, M; Flasinski, S et al. (2000) Frequent homologous recombination events between molecules of one RNA component in a multipartite RNA virus. J Virol 74:4214-9
Nagy, P D; Ogiela, C; Bujarski, J J (1999) Mapping sequences active in homologous RNA recombination in brome mosaic virus: prediction of recombination hot spots. Virology 254:92-104
Nagy, P D; Bujarski, J J (1998) Silencing homologous RNA recombination hot spots with GC-rich sequences in brome mosaic virus. J Virol 72:1122-30
Figlerowicz, M; Nagy, P D; Tang, N et al. (1998) Mutations in the N terminus of the brome mosaic virus polymerase affect genetic RNA-RNA recombination. J Virol 72:9192-200
Flasinski, S; Dzianott, A; Speir, J A et al. (1997) Structure-based rationale for the rescue of systemic movement of brome mosaic virus by spontaneous second-site mutations in the coat protein gene. J Virol 71:2500-4
Pogany, J; Romero, J; Bujarski, J J (1997) Effect of 5' and 3' terminal sequences, overall length, and coding capacity on the accumulation of defective RNAs associated with broad bean mottle bromovirus in planta. Virology 228:236-43
Nagy, P D; Bujarski, J J (1997) Engineering of homologous recombination hotspots with AU-rich sequences in brome mosaic virus. J Virol 71:3799-810
Figlerowicz, M; Nagy, P D; Bujarski, J J (1997) A mutation in the putative RNA polymerase gene inhibits nonhomologous, but not homologous, genetic recombination in an RNA virus. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 94:2073-8
Nagy, P D; Bujarski, J J (1996) Homologous RNA recombination in brome mosaic virus: AU-rich sequences decrease the accuracy of crossovers. J Virol 70:415-26
Dzianott, A; Flasinski, S; Bujarski, J J (1995) Foreign complementary sequences facilitate genetic RNA recombination in brome mosaic virus. Virology 208:370-5

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