# POLIOVIRUS RNA REPLICATION

> **NIH NIH R01** · UTAH STATE HIGHER EDUCATION SYSTEM--UNIVERSITY OF UTAH · 1991 · $210,096

## Abstract

A major gap in the knowledge of the replication cycle of the
picornaviruses lies in the area of viral RNA synthesis from RNA
templates.  The human virus, poliovirus, offers a useful prototype
to study this process.  Recent efforts to develop an in vitro RNA
replication system by reconstituting purified components have led
us to question the relevance of the in vitro reaction to the
mechanism of polio RNA replications in vitro.  Thus, in this
application, we propose several alternative approaches to improve
our understanding of viral RNA replication, and, in particular, of
the viral RNA dependent RNA polymerase.  We have expressed
this enzyme in clones of E. coli carrying plasmids with the polio
cDNA gene sequence for the enzyme.  This enzyme demonstrates
RNA polymerase activity in vitro, and the clones can thus be used
to analyze structure-function relationships in vitro.  We will
perform site-directed mutagenesis of the polymerase gene and
characterize the effects of known mutations on enzymatic
activity.  We will generate conditional lethal polymerase virus
mutants and determine the relationship between their selected
phenotypes and their altered gene sequences.  Protein-protein and
protein-RNA interactions will be probed by cross-linking
procedures, and efforts to reconstitute the initiation reaction in
an active replication complex, with synthetic membranes will be
explored.  Ultimately, a complete understanding of the structure
and function(s) of the RNA replication machinery will be sought.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 3127202
- **Project number:** 5R01AI017386-10
- **Recipient organization:** UTAH STATE HIGHER EDUCATION SYSTEM--UNIVERSITY OF UTAH
- **SAM.gov UEI:** LL8GLEVH6MG3
- **Principal Investigator:** Ellie R. Ehrenfeld
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 1991
- **Award amount:** $210,096
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 1981-01-01 → 1992-11-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/3127202

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 3127202, POLIOVIRUS RNA REPLICATION (5R01AI017386-10). Retrieved via MORVS 2026-10-24 from https://api.morvs.ai/grant/nih/3127202. Licensed CC0.

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