# REPLICATION OF NEGATIVE STRAND RNA VIRUSES

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY · 1991 · $159,064

## Abstract

Vesicular stomatitis virus is a nonsegmented negative-stranded RNA
virus.  The virion consits of a central ribonucleoprotein core
surrounded by a membrane, and contains five viral structural
proteins: L ( a polymerase subunit) 2,109 aa; G (the surface
glycoprotein) 511 aa; M (the matrix protein) 229 aa; NS ( a
phosphorylated polymerase subunit) 225 aa: N (the nucleoprotein)
422 aa.  The RNA genome (11,162 nucleotides) comprises six
transcription units: five genes in the order 5'L,G,M,NS,N 3' and
a 47 inculeotide 3'-proximal leader.

In the infected cell the RNA genome, complexed with the N protein,
serves as a template for two distinct but coupled pathways of RNA
synthesis: transcriptin and replication.  The products of
transcription are the plus strand leader and five monocistronic
mRNAs which possess the 5'-terminal cap structure 7mG(5') ppp(5')Am
and a 3'terminal poly(A) track.  The products of replication are
genome-length positive- and negative-stranded RNAs which are
encapsidated with N protein.

Transicription of VSV mRNAs is mediated by a subviral complex which
comprises a two subunit transcriptase (L and NS), the
ribonucleoprotein template, and at least five enzymatic
activitiess: polymerase, guanylyltransferase, guaine-7-
methyltransferase, nucleoside-2' -0-methyltransferase, and protein
kinase.  The long range goal of this program is to define the
stucture-function correlates within the complex.  To this end,
three experimental approaches are being integrated:  1) site-
directed photoaffinity protein labeling to identify and localize
enzyme active sites; 2) nucleotide sequence determination to
provide the predicted amino acid sequecne of L, identification of
conserved regions in L, and identification of sites of mutational
lesions in the l. gene; 3) in vitro functional analyses of
transcription variants.  Correlation of the data generated in these
studies will lead to a comprehensive model for VSV transcription.

VSV serves as an excellent model system for the study of negative-
strand RNA viruses, many of which are important pathogens of man.
Information generated in the VSV studies studies described herein
will lead to strategies for the prevention and treatment of
negative trand viral diseases of man.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 3125496
- **Project number:** 5R01AI013574-14
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY
- **SAM.gov UEI:** H1HYA8Z1NTM5
- **Principal Investigator:** JUDITH A LESNAW
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 1991
- **Award amount:** $159,064
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 1978-06-01 → 1993-11-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/3125496

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 3125496, REPLICATION OF NEGATIVE STRAND RNA VIRUSES (5R01AI013574-14). Retrieved via MORVS 2026-10-25 from https://api.morvs.ai/grant/nih/3125496. Licensed CC0.

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