# MOLECULAR STRUCTURE AND INTERACTIONS OF VIRUSES

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI KANSAS CITY · 1992 · $142,299

## Abstract

The central objective of the proposed research is to determine the
molecular basis for protein-nucleic acid recognition which leads
to the proper assembly and stability of viruses and gene
regulatory complexes.

The specific aims are to determine, for native viruses and
macromolecular assemblies, the following:  (i) specific molecular
subgroups which are responsible for protein-nucleic acid
recognition, (ii) chemical and physical factors, such as pH, ionic
composition, and temperature, which regulate assembly and
disassembly processes, and (iii) secondary structures and
conformations of nucleic acid and protein molecules at
physiological conditions.  These aims shall be pursued primarily by
the method of laser Raman spectroscopy, employing the powerful
technique of optical multichannel analysis (OMA).  Targeted for
study are a number of viruses and nucleoproteins for which
complementary genetic, biochemical and structural information is
available or obtainable.  Among these systems are filamentious
bacteriophages, isometric viruses, and phage lambda cI and Cro
repressors and their recognition operators.  The interpretation of
results on viruses and nucleoproteins will be aided by parallel
studies of model DNA and protein molecules.

The collection of Raman spectroscopic data by the OMA rapid
acquisition technique will enable the investigation of both
equilibrium structures and dynamic processes.  Structures of
viruses and nucleoproteins will be determined and compared in
both the solution and crystal states.  The approach is one which
can test the applicability of X-ray determined crystal structures
for aqueous nucleic acids, proteins and their biologically active
assemblies.  Since many of the results will be applicable to viruses
which infect higher organisms, this research program has long
range health-related benefits.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 3125045
- **Project number:** 5R01AI011855-18
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI KANSAS CITY
- **SAM.gov UEI:** J9CDGR596MN3
- **Principal Investigator:** George J Thomas
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 1992
- **Award amount:** $142,299
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 1987-09-01 → 1993-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/3125045

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 3125045, MOLECULAR STRUCTURE AND INTERACTIONS OF VIRUSES (5R01AI011855-18). Retrieved via MORVS 2026-10-25 from https://api.morvs.ai/grant/nih/3125045. Licensed CC0.

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