# STUDIES WITH SYNTHETIC NEURAMINIDASE SUBSTRATES

> **NIH NIH R01** · MOUNT SINAI SCHOOL OF MEDICINE OF CUNY · 1993 · $302,735

## Abstract

One of the goals of this application is to continue our studies on
the genetic variation of influenza viruses in nature and their
evolution in man and in animals.  Specifically, we plan to analyze
the nucleoprotein (NP) genes of human influenza A viruses isolated
during a period of more than five decades.  We will also study
influenza A viruses (genes) from the avian and equine populations
to determine their genetic stability relative to human strains.
Also, a continuing molecular analysis of epidemiologically
significant influenza A, B and C viruses is planned.  Further goals
concern the analysis of the receptor-binding/receptor-destroying
activities of coronaviruses.  Recently, we found that
coronaviruses--like influenza C viruses-recognize O-acetylated
sialic (neuraminic) acids as cell receptors and possess a sialate-
O-acetylesterase as receptor-destroying enzyme.  We now plan to
clone the genes responsible for these activities in human
coronavirus and we hope to identify the essential features of the
catalytic and substrate binding sites in the proteins.  We also
plan to determine the mechanism of catalysis through the use of
specific esterase substrates and esterase inhibitors.  Compounds
of the latter type may be effective in inhibiting virus replication
and could represent a new approach to antiviral targeting with
respect to viruses carrying an esterase (receptor-destroying)
activity.   We further plan to characterize the coronavirus
receptors on permissive cells and we hope to determine whether
(modified) sialic acids are the sole receptor molecules on target
cells.  Finally, we hope to explore the concept of receptor-binding
and receptor-destroying activities in viruses belonging to other
virus groups.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 3125037
- **Project number:** 5R01AI011823-20
- **Recipient organization:** MOUNT SINAI SCHOOL OF MEDICINE OF CUNY
- **Principal Investigator:** Peter Palese
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 1993
- **Award amount:** $302,735
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 1977-05-01 → 1994-04-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/3125037

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 3125037, STUDIES WITH SYNTHETIC NEURAMINIDASE SUBSTRATES (5R01AI011823-20). Retrieved via MORVS 2026-10-25 from https://api.morvs.ai/grant/nih/3125037. Licensed CC0.

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