J. Bert Flanegan, Ph. D.
Professor and Chair
Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
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J. Bert Flanegan, Ph. D. |
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Replication of RNA Viruses RNA viruses cause a variety of diseases including poliomyelitis, hepatitis, the common cold, encephalitis, etc. We use poliovirus as a model system to study the molecular basis of (+)-strand RNA virus replication. Using cell-free translation-RNA replication reactions, we synthesize authentic progeny RNA and infectious virus in vitro. This approach has allowed us to characterize the biochemical activities of the viral proteins and to identify cis-active replication elements in the viral genome. We are now investigating how the viral proteins and these cis-active sequences interact to regulate the translation, replication, recombination and stability of viral RNA. Our results suggest that the ends of the viral genome interact to form a circular RNP complex that regulates the viral RNA replication cycle. Since other (+) strand RNA viruses utilize similar replication strategies, we are now adapting this system for use with other RNA viruses such as hepatitis C virus.
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Status: Inquire About New Students This Year Contact Information: office: ARB R3-234 A lab: ARB R1-273 phone: (352) 392-0688 email: flanegan@ufl.edu Home Page Biography: Professor and Chairman James B. Flanegan earned his Ph.D. degree in Biochemistry at the University of Michigan in 1975 for his work with Dr. G. Robert Greenberg on bacteriophage T4 DNA replication. In 1975, he joined Dr. David Baltimore's laboratory at MIT where he began his research on the replication of RNA viruses. He joined the faculty of the University of Florida in 1978 and rose to the rank of Professor in 1987. In 1998, he was named Chair of the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. Dr. Flanegan has served as a member of the NIH Virology Study Section. He was awarded the College of Medicine Faculty Research Award in 1989, the University of Florida Research Foundation Professorship in 1998 and the Professorial Excellence Program (PEP) Award in 1999. |
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