# MACROMOLECULAR SYNTHESIS IN VIRUS-INFECTED CELLS

> **NIH NIH R01** · DUKE UNIVERSITY · 1987 · $366,015

## Abstract

Attempts will be made to answer several questions concerning the nature of
the functions encoded in the reovirus genome and concerning reovirus
multiplication.  They are:  a. Reovirus morphogenesis will be estudied in
vivo by analyzing the nature of the RNA and protein components of
progressively more mature immature reovirus particles, starting with the
first complexes into which the ten individual species of ssRNA molecules
are assembled.  It will also be studied in vitro by reacting various
combinations of native reovirus proteins with ssRNA molecules and isolating
and characterizing the complexes that result.  b.  Native reovirus proteins
will be examined for possession of the five enzyme activities that are
exhibited by reovirus cores.  Such proteins will be isolated from bacteria
transformed by expression vectors into which reovirus genes have been
cloned.  c.  Attempts will be made to elucidate the functions of reovirus
proteins by examining in detail the multiplication cycles of ts mutants at
nonpermissive temperatures.  Mutants with lesions in each of the ten genes
are available.  Multiplication cycles will be analyzed in terms of the
kinetics of synthesis of ss and dsRNA species and reovirus proteins, as
well as of the various particles on the pathway of reovirus morphogenesis.
d.  The various reovirus messenger RNA species are not translated with
equal efficiency.  The importance of regions upstream from and around
initiation codons as elements that control efficiency of translation will e
investigated by introducing mutations, deletions and insertions into them.
be.  The evolutionary and functional relationships of the three reovirus
serotypes will be studied by sequencing cognate sets of their genes and
examining cognate sets of their proteins for similarity of tertiary
structure and for the nature of their antigenic and functional domains.
f.  The mode of the anti-reovirus activity of ribavirin, and various pure
interferon species will be examined by determining which reactions of the
reovirus multiplication cycle they inhibit.  Hopefully, these results can
be extended and applied to infections by rotaviruses and orbiviruses of
medical importance.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 3124478
- **Project number:** 5R01AI008909-20
- **Recipient organization:** DUKE UNIVERSITY
- **SAM.gov UEI:** TP7EK8DZV6N5
- **Principal Investigator:** Wolfgang K Joklik
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 1987
- **Award amount:** $366,015
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 1974-09-01 → 1989-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/3124478

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 3124478, MACROMOLECULAR SYNTHESIS IN VIRUS-INFECTED CELLS (5R01AI008909-20). Retrieved via MORVS 2026-10-25 from https://api.morvs.ai/grant/nih/3124478. Licensed CC0.

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