No description available.

Viruses have huge impact on controlling diseases and regulating many key ecosystem processes. As metagenomic data can contain many microbiomes including many viruses, by analyzing metagenomic data we can analyze many viruses at the same time. The first step towards analyzing metagenomic data is to identify and quantify viruses present in the data. In order to answer this question, we developed a computational pipeline, FastViromeExplorer. FastViromeExplorer leverages a pseudoalignment based approach, which is faster than the traditional alignment based approach to quickly align millions/billions of reads. Application of FastViromeExplorer on both human gut samples and environmental samples shows that our tool can successfully identify viruses and quantify the abundances of viruses quickly and accurately even for a large data set. As viruses are getting increased attention in recent times, most of the viruses are still unknown or uncategorized. To discover novel viruses from metagenomic data, we developed a computational pipeline named FVE-novel. FVE-novel leverages a hybrid of both reference based and de novo assembly approach to recover novel viruses from metagenomic data. By applying FVE-novel to an ocean metagenome sample, we successfully recovered two novel viruses and two different strains of known phages. Analysis of viral assemblies from metagenomic data reveals that viral assemblies often contain assembly errors like chimeric sequences which means more than one viral genomes are incorrectly assembled together. In order to identify and fix these types of assembly errors, we developed a computational tool called VirChecker. Our tool can identify and fix assembly errors due to chimeric assembly. VirChecker also extends the assembly as much as possible to complete it and then annotates the extended and improved assembly. Application of VirChecker to viral scaffolds collected from an ocean meatgenome sample shows that our tool successfully fixes the assembly errors and extends two novel virus genomes and two strains of known phage genomes. / Doctor of Philosophy / Virus, the most abundant micro-organism on earth has a profound impact on human health and environment. Analyzing metagenomic data for viruses has the beneFIt of analyzing many viruses at a time without the need of cultivating them in the lab environment. Here, in this dissertation, we addressed three research problems of analyzing viruses from metagenomic data. To analyze viruses in metagenomic data, the first question needs to answer is what viruses are there and at what quantity. To answer this question, we developed a computational pipeline, FastViromeExplorer. Our tool can identify viruses from metagenomic data and quantify the abundances of viruses present in the data quickly and accurately even for a large data set. To recover novel virus genomes from metagenomic data, we developed a computational pipeline named FVE-novel. By applying FVE-novel to an ocean metagenome sample, we successfully recovered two novel viruses and two strains of known phages. Examination of viral assemblies from metagenomic data reveals that due to the complex nature of metagenome data, viral assemblies often contain assembly errors and are incomplete. To solve this problem, we developed a computational pipeline, named VirChecker, to polish, extend and annotate viral assemblies. Application of VirChecker to virus genomes recovered from an ocean metagenome sample shows that our tool successfully extended and completed those virus genomes.

Positive-strand RNA viruses associate with specific organelle membranes of host cells to establish viral replication complexes. The replication protein 1a of brome mosaic virus associates strongly with the nuclear endoplasmic reticulum (ER) membranes, invaginates membranes into the lumen, and recruits various host proteins to establish replication complexes termed spherules. 1a has a strong affinity towards the perinuclear ER membrane, however, the structural features in 1a that dictate its membrane associations and thereby membrane remodeling activities are unclear. This study examined the possible role of an amphipathic α-helix, helix B, in BMV 1a's membrane association. Deletion or single substitution of multiple amino acids of helix B abolished BMV 1a's localization to nuclear ER membranes. Additional reporter-based, gain-of-function assays showed that helix B is sufficient in targeting several soluble proteins to the nuclear ER membranes. Furthermore, we found that the helix B-mediated organelle targeting is a functionally conserved feature among positive-strand RNA viruses of the alphavirus-like superfamily that includes notable human viruses such as Hepatitis E virus and Rubella virus as well as plant viruses such as cucumber mosaic virus and cowpea chlorotic mottle virus. Our results demonstrate a critical role for helix B across members of the alphavirus-like superfamily in anchoring viral replication complexes to the organelle membranes. We anticipate our findings to be a starting point for the development of sophisticated models to use helix B as a novel target for the development of antivirals for positive-strand RNA viruses that belong to the alphavirus-like superfamily. / Doctor of Philosophy / Among the seven classes of viruses, the positive-strand RNA viruses dominate the domain of viral diseases of the world. Brome mosaic virus (BMV) is a positive-strand RNA virus that infects cereal crops such as wheat, barley, and rice. BMV has a simple genome organization and serves as a suitable model virus to study and characterize positive-strand RNA viruses. The replication of all positive-strand RNA viruses occurs at the organelle membranes of the host. Membrane association of the replication is one of the early steps and a crucial event in the life cycle of positive-strand RNA viruses. One of the proteins produced early on during BMV infection is the replication protein 1a, which is also the master regulator of viral replication; 1a recruits viral factors in addition to hijacking the necessary host factors at the membranous sites to initiate replication. Upon reaching the organelle membranes, 1a induces membrane rearrangements to form viral replication complexes that safeguard the recruited factors from the deleterious effects of the host cell. The structural determinants within 1a that are responsible for such membrane association are unknown. This study explored the potential roles of a short helical motif within the 1a protein for its ability to dictate such site-specific membrane associations. We show here that this helical region is necessary and sufficient for 1a's membrane-binding activity. We also discovered it to be a functionally conserved feature that is responsible for membrane associations in various viruses of the alphavirus-like superfamily that includes some of the notable human viruses such as Hepatitis E virus and Rubella virus in addition to plant viruses such as cucumber mosaic virus and cowpea chlorotic mottle virus.

O gênero botânico Clerodendrum pertence à família Lamiaceae e compreende várias espécies ornamentais, geralmente trepadeiras, das quais as mais comumente cultivadas são coração-sangrento (C. x speciosum Tiejism. & Binn.) e lágrima-de-Cristo (C. thomsonae Balf.). Manchas cloróticas e necróticas em folhas de coração-sangrento foram observadas pela primeira vez em um jardim de Piracicaba, SP, associadas à infestação com Brevipalpus phoenicis Geijskes (Acari: Tenuipalpidae). Exames de secções de tecidos das lesões foliares ao microscópio eletrônico revelaram ocorrência de efeitos citopáticos do tipo nuclear e concluiu-se que os sintomas eram causados por um vírus transmitido por Brevipalpus (VTB), o qual foi tentativamente designado de mancha clorótica de Clerodendrum (Clerodendrum chlorotic spot virus- ClCSV). O ClCSV é transmitido mecanicamente de coração-sangrento para coração-sangrento e em ensaios preliminares foi transmitido mecanicamente e por Brevipalpus phoenicis para várias outras plantas, além da ocorrência de sua disseminação natural por esses ácaros para outras espécies. Ocorre a infecção sistêmica nas hospedeiras Chenopodium quinoa Will. e C. amaranticolor Coste & Reyn. infectadas com ClCSV caso as plantas sejam mantidas por cerca de 2 semanas entre 28-30 oC. Utilizando-se estas plantas realizou-se a purificação parcial do vírus. Este trabalho apresenta a caracterização biológica e molecular do ClCSV. Os resultados dos testes PTA-ELISA e RT-PCR demonstraram a detecção do ClCSV em diversas hospedeiras, além da análise da reação sorológica e molecular deste vírus com os outros VTBs do tipo nuclear. O seqüenciamento do produto de PCR revelou que as seqüências de nucleotídeos apresentaram similaridade com a polimerase de OFV (Orchid Fleck Virus), outro VTB do tipo nuclear. Além da identificação sorológica do vírus foram realizadas análises morfo-anatômicas para visualização das alterações causadas pelo ClCSV em tecidos de Clerodendrum x speciosum e em hospedeiras infectadas. / The botanical genus Clerodendrum belongs to the family Lamiaceae and includes several ornamental species, usually climbing, and heart-bloody (C. x speciosum Tiejism. & Binn.) and tear-in-Christ (C. thomsonae Balf. ) are among the most cultivated. Necrotic and chlorotic spots on leaves of heart-blood have been observed for the first time in a garden of Piracicaba, associated with an infestation of Brevipalpus phoenicis Geijskes (Acari: Tenuipalpidae). Sections of diseased tissues examined in the electron microscope revealed characteristic cytopathic effects of the nuclear type and concluded that the symptoms were caused by a virus transmitted by Brevipalpus (VTB), tentatively named Clerodendrum chlorotic spot virus (ClCSV). This virus is transmitted through mechanical inoculation from heart-bloody to heart-bloody and in preliminary tests mechanically and by mites for several other plants, in addition to the natural occurrence of its spread to other species. Systemic infection occurs in the host Chenopodium quinoa Will. and C. amaranticolor Coste & Reyn. infected with ClCSV if the plants are kept at 28-30°C for about 2 weeks. These plants were used for partial purification of vírus. This study presents the biological and molecular characterization of ClCSV. Through the PTA-ELISA and RT-PCR tests was possible to detect the ClCSV in different host, in addition to the analysis of serological and molecular reaction of this virus with other type of nuclear VTBs. From the sequencing of the PCR product was obtained from nucleotide sequences that showed similarity to the polymerase of OFV (Orchid Fleck Virus), another type of nuclear VTB. Morpho-anatomical analysis were performed to see the changes caused by ClCSV in tissues of Clerodendrum x speciosum and other infected hosts. It was possible to observe the occurrence of hypertrophy, cell plasmolisis and the reduction of starch grains in the áreas injured in all plants infected by ClCSV.

Made available in DSpace on 2015-04-22T22:12:45Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Roberto Alexandre.pdf: 1763581 bytes, checksum: c0c0eb448d286d60be56fecd5eb291e0 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2010-08-03 / CAPES - Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / The Human papillomavirus is responsible for lesions in the oral mucosa, anal and urogenital tract of male and female, transmitted by direct or indirect contact with infected skin or through sexual intercourse. In women these infections can progress to cervical cancer, which is estimated incidence for the Northern region in 2010 was the largest in Brazil. The nature of the infection depends on the degree of integration of viral DNA with host DNA linked primarily to genes of oncoproteins E6 and E7 of HPV. The determination of the viral types can be held from differences in the viral capsid L1 gene and the variants of a particular type of HPV can be identified through the study of viral non-coding region. Currently the development of prophylactic vaccines against HPV particles using "pseudo-viral" formed by the L1 protein of different subtypes of high risk, while a growing number of studies that use the oncoproteins E6 and E7 in the development of therapeutic vaccines. However, it is necessary for the development of such antiviral vaccines also consider the great diversity of variants of HPV types exist, since differences between the genomic regions of these variants may influence the degree of their infections. This paper describes the complete genome sequence of a variant of HPV 16, detected in Amazonian region, using techniques of genetic engineering and the analysis of this genome by bioinformatics tools. It was observed by analysis of genetic distance that the genome of this variant has a genetic proximity of those identified in the literature as "African variants, and phylogenetic analysis, performed from the non-coding region, support this hypothesis. In addition, several mutations were detected in the genome and obtained, resulting in changes in the positions and number of restriction sites in its sequence. The major differences between the genetic regions of the genome sequenced and the corresponding variants in Africa have been observed over E7. It is expected, with that work, look for future research projects involving protein expression and genomic analysis of HPV in the Amazon region to the regional peculiarities in variants and provide a concise and complete reference on the genome of HPV 16 in the region. / O Papillomavirus Humano é responsável por lesões na mucosa oral, anal e do trato urogenital masculino e feminino, transmitidas por contato direto ou indireto com a pele infectada ou através de relações sexuais. Na mulher essas infecções podem evoluir para um câncer de colo do útero, cuja estimativa de incidência para a região Norte no ano de 2010 foi a maior do Brasil. A natureza das infecções depende do grau de integração do DNA viral com o DNA do hospedeiro associada, principalmente, aos genes das oncoproteínas E6 e E7 do HPV. A determinação dos tipos virais pode ser realizada a partir de diferenças no gene L1 do capsídeo viral e as variantes de um determinado tipo de HPV podem ser identificadas por meio do estudo da Região Não Codificadora viral. Atualmente o desenvolvimento de vacinas profiláticas contra o HPV utiliza partículas pseudo-virais formadas pela proteína L1 de tipos virais de alto risco, enquanto cresce o número de estudos que utilizam as oncoproteínas E6 e E7 no desenvolvimento de vacinas terapêuticas. Contudo, é necessário que o desenvolvimento de tais vacinas antivirais também considere a grande diversidade das variantes dos tipos de HPV existentes, uma vez que diferenças entre as regiões genômicas dessas variantes podem influenciar o grau de suas infecções. Este trabalho descreve o sequenciamento completo do genoma de uma variante do HPV 16, detectado no Estado do Amazonas, utilizando técnicas de Engenharia Genética, bem como a análise desse genoma por ferramentas de Bioinformática. Observou-se, pela análise de distâncias genéticas, que o genoma dessa variante apresenta grande proximidade genética dos exemplares identificados na literatura como variantes africanas , e as análises filogenéticas, realizadas a partir da Região Não Codificadora, reforçam essa hipótese. Além disso, também foram detectadas várias mutações ao longo do genoma obtido, resultando em alterações nas posições e na quantidade de sítios de restrição de sua sequência. As maiores diferenças entre as regiões gênicas do genoma sequenciado e as correspondentes nas variantes africanas foram observadas ao longo de E7. Espera-se, com esse trabalho, atentar os futuros projetos de pesquisa que envolvam expressão de proteínas e análises genômicas de HPV na região amazônica para as peculiaridades existentes nas variantes regionais e fornecer uma referência concisa e completa sobre o genoma do HPV 16 na região.

Arenaviruses are enveloped negative-strand RNA viruses that cause significant human disease. Despite decades of research, it is still unclear how these viruses establish a lifelong, asymptomatic infection in their rodent hosts while infection of humans often results in severe disease. Unable to enter a state of bona fide latency, the transcription and replication of the viral genomic RNA is likely highly regulated in time and subcellular space. Moreover, we hypothesize that the viral nucleoprotein (NP), responsible for the encapsidation of the viral RNA and the most highly expressed viral gene product, plays a key role in the regulation of the viral gene expression program. Further, exploring host-virus interactions may elucidate the basic aspects of arenavirus biology and how they cause such severe disease in humans. To explore these questions in greater detail, this dissertation has pursued three main avenues. First, to better understand lymphocytic choriomeningitis mammarenavirus (LCMV) genome replication and transcription at the single-cell level, we established a high-throughput, single-molecule (sm)FISH image acquisition and analysis pipeline and followed viral RNA species from viral entry through the late stages of persistent infection in vitro. This work provided support for a cyclical model of persistence where individual cells are initially transiently infected, clear active infection, and become re-infected from neighboring reservoir cells within the population. Second, we used FISH to visualize viral genomic RNA to describe the subcellular sites where LCMV RNAs localize during infection. We observed that, viral RNA concentrates in large subcellular structures located near the cellular microtubule organizing center and colocalizes with the early endosomal marker Rab5c and the viral glycoprotein in a proportion of infected cells. We propose that the virus is using the surface of a cellular membrane bound organelle as a site for the pre-assembly of viral components including genomic RNA and viral glycoprotein prior to their transport to the plasma membrane where new particles will bud. Last, we used mass spectrometry to identify human proteins that interact with the NPs of LCMV and Junín mammareanavirus (JUNV) strain Candid #1. We provided a detailed map of the host machinery engaged by arenavirus NPs, and in particular, showed that NP associates with the double-stranded RNA (dsRNA)-activated protein kinase (PKR), a well-characterized antiviral protein that inhibits cap-dependent protein translation initiation via phosphorylation of eIF2α. We demonstrated that JUNV antagonizes the antiviral activity of PKR completely, effectively abrogating the antiviral activity of this surveillance pathway. In sum, the work composing this dissertation has given us fresh insight into how arenaviruses establish and maintain persistence; the nature of the subcellular site where viral genomic RNA is transcribed, replicated, and assembled with other viral components; and a global view of the cellular machinery hijacked by the viral nucleoprotein. This work improves our basic understanding of the arenavirus life cycle and may suggest novel antiviral therapeutic targets that could be exploited in the future.

O gênero botânico Clerodendrum pertence à família Lamiaceae e compreende várias espécies ornamentais, geralmente trepadeiras, das quais as mais comumente cultivadas são coração-sangrento (C. x speciosum Tiejism. & Binn.) e lágrima-de-Cristo (C. thomsonae Balf.). Manchas cloróticas e necróticas em folhas de coração-sangrento foram observadas pela primeira vez em um jardim de Piracicaba, SP, associadas à infestação com Brevipalpus phoenicis Geijskes (Acari: Tenuipalpidae). Exames de secções de tecidos das lesões foliares ao microscópio eletrônico revelaram ocorrência de efeitos citopáticos do tipo nuclear e concluiu-se que os sintomas eram causados por um vírus transmitido por Brevipalpus (VTB), o qual foi tentativamente designado de mancha clorótica de Clerodendrum (Clerodendrum chlorotic spot virus- ClCSV). O ClCSV é transmitido mecanicamente de coração-sangrento para coração-sangrento e em ensaios preliminares foi transmitido mecanicamente e por Brevipalpus phoenicis para várias outras plantas, além da ocorrência de sua disseminação natural por esses ácaros para outras espécies. Ocorre a infecção sistêmica nas hospedeiras Chenopodium quinoa Will. e C. amaranticolor Coste & Reyn. infectadas com ClCSV caso as plantas sejam mantidas por cerca de 2 semanas entre 28-30 oC. Utilizando-se estas plantas realizou-se a purificação parcial do vírus. Este trabalho apresenta a caracterização biológica e molecular do ClCSV. Os resultados dos testes PTA-ELISA e RT-PCR demonstraram a detecção do ClCSV em diversas hospedeiras, além da análise da reação sorológica e molecular deste vírus com os outros VTBs do tipo nuclear. O seqüenciamento do produto de PCR revelou que as seqüências de nucleotídeos apresentaram similaridade com a polimerase de OFV (Orchid Fleck Virus), outro VTB do tipo nuclear. Além da identificação sorológica do vírus foram realizadas análises morfo-anatômicas para visualização das alterações causadas pelo ClCSV em tecidos de Clerodendrum x speciosum e em hospedeiras infectadas. / The botanical genus Clerodendrum belongs to the family Lamiaceae and includes several ornamental species, usually climbing, and heart-bloody (C. x speciosum Tiejism. & Binn.) and tear-in-Christ (C. thomsonae Balf. ) are among the most cultivated. Necrotic and chlorotic spots on leaves of heart-blood have been observed for the first time in a garden of Piracicaba, associated with an infestation of Brevipalpus phoenicis Geijskes (Acari: Tenuipalpidae). Sections of diseased tissues examined in the electron microscope revealed characteristic cytopathic effects of the nuclear type and concluded that the symptoms were caused by a virus transmitted by Brevipalpus (VTB), tentatively named Clerodendrum chlorotic spot virus (ClCSV). This virus is transmitted through mechanical inoculation from heart-bloody to heart-bloody and in preliminary tests mechanically and by mites for several other plants, in addition to the natural occurrence of its spread to other species. Systemic infection occurs in the host Chenopodium quinoa Will. and C. amaranticolor Coste & Reyn. infected with ClCSV if the plants are kept at 28-30°C for about 2 weeks. These plants were used for partial purification of vírus. This study presents the biological and molecular characterization of ClCSV. Through the PTA-ELISA and RT-PCR tests was possible to detect the ClCSV in different host, in addition to the analysis of serological and molecular reaction of this virus with other type of nuclear VTBs. From the sequencing of the PCR product was obtained from nucleotide sequences that showed similarity to the polymerase of OFV (Orchid Fleck Virus), another type of nuclear VTB. Morpho-anatomical analysis were performed to see the changes caused by ClCSV in tissues of Clerodendrum x speciosum and other infected hosts. It was possible to observe the occurrence of hypertrophy, cell plasmolisis and the reduction of starch grains in the áreas injured in all plants infected by ClCSV.

No description available.

Murine polyomavirus is an important member of Polyomaviridae family offering potential applications in gene therapy and immunotherapy. Viral mutant analysis is crucial for study of the virus, however, commonly used methods of its production are laborious and give low yields. This thesis involves development of the new experimental system that can produce intact viral genome from recombinant plasmid in vivo using Cre/loxP-mediated recombination. One loxP site is unavoidably introduced into newly generated viral genome during recombination. Two variants of production plasmids generating wild type viral genome with incorporation of loxP between the poly(A) signal sites of early and late genes or into the intronic region of early genes were prepared. LoxP insertion between the poly(A) signal sites has a dramatic effect on viral gene expression and leads to complete loss of virus infectivity. Conversely, the infectious virus was obtained from the viral genome containing loxP site in the early intronic region. To ensure expression of Cre recombinase I also prepared stably transfected cell lines which can simplify the virus production. This thesis shows that newly designed system gives satisfactory yield of the virus, solves restrictions connected with commonly used methods and can be used for low infectious viral...

This thesis describes the tertiary structures and dynamic studies of two protein systems. The first is human γC -crystallin protein, which is present in the nucleus of the human eye lens and the other is the plant viral protein VPg (an intrinsically disordered protein) in its free as well as its protease bound forms. The structural studies described here have been carried out using high-resolution solution NMR spectroscopic methods. Project I: Determination of solution structure and dynamics of Human γC-crystallin (HGC) using NMR spectroscopy The crystallins are the most abundant proteins in the eye lens of vertebrates. These proteins are packed in short-range spatial order to provide the transparency and appropriate refractive index gradient that are required for vision. The crystallins belong to two gene families, which are categorized as the alpha and beta/gamma crystallins respectively. The classification on the basis of molecular size and structure results in the proteins being referred to as alpha, beta and gamma crystallins. Again, each of the crystallins has two or more subtypes. The stoichiometry of the subtypes of α, β and γ crystallins varies with the age of the organism, but the order of abundance remains as β > α > γ irrespective of age. The most abundant crystallins in the nucleus (central region) of eye lens are the γ -crystallins. In the human lens, only three members of the γ− crystallin family are mainly expressed i.e. γS- (HGS), γC - (HGC) and γD - (HGD). HGS is expressed postnatally and thus is present mainly in the cortical region of the lens unlike HGC and HGD crystallins, which are present in the nucleus. It is known that aging and some cataract-associated genetic mutations alter the structure of these proteins. Other point mutations result in minimum structural perturbation but with drastically lowered solubility. Mutation in the human γC -crystallin leads to congenital cataract such as Coppock-like cataract, while structural information is available for HGD & HGS but no structure is available for HGC. However, recently a model structure has been reported for HGC based on a mouse orthologous. Based on this model structure, it was argued that HGC is an insoluble protein and was explained by lower magnitude of dipole moment and fluctuation in N-terminal domain of the model structure. However it is shown that HGC is very soluble protein. Solution structure of human γC-crystallin has been determined from an analysis of multidimensional triple resonance NMR spectroscopy using distance restraints from unambiguously assigned 1H-1H NOE peaks and dihedral angle restraints from HNHA and HNHB spectra. 15N relaxation average T1 and T2 correspond to 0.729 ± 0.02 and 0.060 ± 0.04 second from 15N backbone relaxation study, which gives average rotational correlation time 10.87 ns that shows human γC-crystallin is monomer in solution of molecular weight 21 kDa (173 residues). The ensemble of 20 lowest energy structures shows a root mean square deviation of 0.60 ± 0.12 Å for the backbone atoms, and 1.03 ± 0.09 Å for all heavy atoms. The comparison between the calculated NMR structure with backbone chain atoms C`, Cα and NH, of the x-ray crystal structure of the mouse γC - crystallin shows that the structure determined here of human γC-crystallin is very similar with an RMSD of 1.3 Å, which is not surprising given the 84.5% amino acid sequence identity between the two proteins. More importantly, the NMR structure reported here shows the subtle differences in the orientation of specific residues as well as the domain interface between the human and mouse orthologs. The orientation of the calculated dipole moment for this NMR structure differs from earlier reported for model structure. However it is similar to the other known soluble proteins. The determined solution structure of human γC-crystallin also enables us to estimate the effect of cataract-associative mutations on the structure and properties of the protein. Several such mutations are already known, and the work presented here could likely shed light on the molecular basis of these cataracts. Project II: Solution structural studies of intrinsically disordered protein VPg in free and bound forms from Sesbania mosaic virus Sesbania mosaic virus (SeMV) is a plant virus, which infects the Sesbania grandiflora tree. SeMV belongs to Sobemovirus genus, which is not defined under any family. The length of this viral genome is ~4kb. This viral genome has four open-reading frames (ORF). ORF1 and ORF2 encode movement and coat proteins, respectively. ORF2 is again split into two ORFs i.e. ORF2a and ORF2b by a -1 shift in the reading frame and encode two polypeptide chains. These polypeptide chains generate several functional proteins upon polyprotein processing. Polyprotein processing is a mechanism employed by animal and plant viruses to produce several functional proteins from a single polypeptide chain. The two polyproteins expressed are catalytically cleaved by a serine protease, thus releasing the four proteins: VPg (viral protein genome linked), RdRP (RNA dependent RNA polymerase), P10, and P8. VPg (“Viral Protein genome linked”) as its name suggests, is covalently linked to the 5` end of the viral RNA. VPgs are generally known to be intrinsically disordered proteins and have many interacting partners. Intrinsically Disordered Proteins (IDPs) are not explained by the 3D structure–function dogma. However, they are important for biological functions such as molecular recognition, signal transduction and regulation. It is known that SeMV protease becomes inactive in the absence of the VPg domain at its C-terminal. VPgs of animal viruses are well studied as compared to VPgs of plant virues. The size of VPg varies across the Sobemovirus genus. It is important to know the structure of VPg since it is necessary for protease activity. The studies conducted here focus on the structural analysis of the VPg in its free and bound forms with protease (VPg complex) as well as some aspect of full-length ProVPg. For structural studies, two constructs of VPg as fusion protein with Cytb5 tag, one lacking 23 residues at its C-terminal using the pET21a(+) plasmid vector have been designed. Sub-cloning was also done to add a thrombin recognition site to remove the hexa-His tag from new constructs of full-length ProVPg and protease (PRO). These proteins were highly expressed, isotopically labeled and purified for NMR study. The sample used for structural studies of the ProVPg 23 complex was prepared using selectively protonated Ile, Leu and Val; and isotopically labeled i.e. 2H, 13C, and 15N-VPg 23 protein. VPg in its free form is an intrinsically disordered protein and this has been confirmed by its dynamic nature observed using solution NMR spectroscopy. VPg binds to its partner protease and adopts a 3D-structure, which has been shown here. The tertiary structure has been determined using distance restraints from 1HN-1HN NOEs and methyl 1HN NOEs, and dihedral angle predicted from analysis of chemical shift values. The tertiary structure of ProVPg 23 complex has one β -sheet composed of three antiparallel β-strands and an α-helix. The ensemble of 20 lowest energy structures shows a root mean square deviation of 0.42 ± 0.09 Å for the backbone atoms, and 1.09 ± 0.11 Å for all heavy atoms for residues 15 to 50 that are primarily involved in structure formation. On the other hand RMSD is 2.34 ± 0.72 Å for the backbone and 2.55 ± 0.60 Å for all heavy atoms for all residues including both termini. That the tertiary fold of VPg both in full-length ProVPg and when complexed with protease domain (PRO) are the same has been shown here. The NMR structure reported here provides a structural basis for the origin of resonances in the up-field region of one–dimensional proton spectrum of full length ProVPg. The binding surface based on the structures of ProVPg 23 complex determined here and X-ray structure of PRO; has been determined using HADDOCK. The structural model here of full length ProVPg 23 shows the presence of aromatic interaction between Trp271 of PRO and Trp46 of VPg, which is consistent with the earlier biochemical studies.