# HCMV, CELL-RELATED DNA, ONCOGENES, AND KAPOSI'S SARCOMA

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN DIEGO · 1987 · $149,689

## Abstract

The human cytomegaloviruses (HCMV), members of the herpesvirus group, are
capable of producing latent and persistent infections and are associated
with numerous diseases including Kaposi's sarcoma.  These multiple
pathogenic effects are likely the result of a complex interplay of viral
gene products and induced and repressed cellular gene functions.  We have
been studying the organization and expression of selected regions of the
HCMV genome strain AD169 and the association of HCMV with Kaposi's
sarcoma.  In this grant application, our proposed studies focus on the
regulation of transcription and the function of the protein products
encoded by the following early RNA transcripts:  1) the 2.7 kb and 1.2 kb
RNA transcripts encoded by the repeat bounding the long unique segment of
the genome; and 2) the 2.2 kb RNA transcripts containing the cell-related
and the complement of the v-myc-related sequences (encoded by EcoRI
fragments d-R).  To begin to elucidate the role of cellular factors in HCMV
pathogenesis, we also propose to identify and characterize specific
cellular genes activated during the permissive infection, with emphasis on
the early times post infection.  In addition, we propose to continue our
analysis of Kaposi's sarcoma specimens from patients with AIDS for HCMV
gene transcription, cellular oncogene transcription, and HTLVIII/LAV
genetic information.  For the above studies, we will use molecular
biological techniques including recombinant DNA technology, nucleic acid
hybridization with highly defined reagents, immunoprecipitation with
specific antibodies, in vitro translation, DNA sequencing, DNA
transfection, construction and use of retrovirus vectors expressing
antisense RNA transcripts, and in situ cytohybridization.  The long range
goals of this research are to define at the molecular level the expression
of the HCMV genome and to elucidate mechanisms of HCMV pathogenesis,
including the role of HCMV in oncogenesis.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 3172499
- **Project number:** 5R01CA034729-05
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN DIEGO
- **SAM.gov UEI:** UYTTZT6G9DT1
- **Principal Investigator:** DEBORAH Hye SPECTOR
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 1987
- **Award amount:** $149,689
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 1983-05-01 → 1991-04-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/3172499

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 3172499, HCMV, CELL-RELATED DNA, ONCOGENES, AND KAPOSI'S SARCOMA (5R01CA034729-05). Retrieved via MORVS 2026-10-25 from https://api.morvs.ai/grant/nih/3172499. Licensed CC0.

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