Research Interests
The research in our lab focuses on the replication of RNA viruses. We are elucidating the mechanism by which viral RNA is encapsidated into assembling virus particles, and characterizing RNA virus transcription and translation.
Retroviruses are single-stranded, plus sense RNA viruses that infect a variety of vertebrate cells and replicate through a DNA intermediate. Two copies of the viral genome are packaged in dimeric form into assembling virus particles. We are examining the role that higher order RNA structure plays in this process and deciphering the interaction between the virus and host factors during nucleic acid replication.
The minus strand segmented viruses are divided into three families, the bunyaviruses, the orthomyxoviruses, and the arenaviruses. These viruses are enveloped viruses that harbor their minus strand RNA genome in nucleocapsids. Hantaviruses are pathogenic bunyaviruses, and we are studying the role of the nucleocapsid peptide (N) in replication. We’re characterizing the multifaceted role that this peptide plays in virus replication. N recognizes the higher order structure of the viral RNA with specificity, serves as an RNA chaperone to reconfigure RNA, and serves as a translation initiation factor to augment viral mRNA synthesis.
Information about post-doctoral positions in the Panganiban lab.
Selected Publications
Link to PubMed
Angeletti PC, Walker D, Panganiban AT. SGT/UBP is a Novel Co-Chaperone
that Effects Hsp70 Activity. Cell Stress and Chaperones,
2002;7(3):258-268.
Mir, MA and Panganiban, AT. Trimeric Hantavirus Nucleocapsid Protein
Binds Specifically with the Viral RNA Panhandle. J Virol. 2004
Aug;78(15):8281-8288.
Mir, MA and Panganiban, AT. The Hantavirus Nucleocapsid Protein
Recognizes Specific Features of the Viral RNA Panhandle and is Altered
in Conformation upon RNA binding. J. Virol. 2005 Feb; 79(3):11824-1835.
Mir MA, Panganiban, AT. The bunyavirus nucleocapsid protein is an RNA
chaperone: possible roles in viral RNA panhandle formation and genome
replication. RNA. 2006 Feb;12(2):272-82.
Mir MA, Brown B, Hjelle B, Duran WA, Panganiban AT. Hantavirus N
protein exhibits genus-specific recognition of the viral RNA panhandle.
J Virol. 2006 Nov;80(22):11283-92.
Mir MA, Panganiban AT. Characterization of the RNA chaperone activity
of hantavirus nucleocapsid protein. J Virol. 2006 Jul;80(13):6276-85.
