# Center for Structural Biology of HIV RNA

> **NIH NIH U54** · UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN AT ANN ARBOR · 2022 · $782,150

## Abstract

Abstract (NMR, Computation and Dynamics Core)
RNA is central to the function of diverse cellular processes, including many steps of HIV-1 viral replication.
Characterization of RNA structure and dynamics at atomic resolution is essential for a full understanding of these
functions, which derive in large part from its structural plasticity over a range of timescales. Despite this, there is
a relative paucity of structural information for RNAs, which comprise <2% of structures deposited in the Protein
Data Bank. NMR is an important tool in RNA structure determination, contributing ~35% of the deposited RNA
structures, and is uniquely capable of probing RNA dynamics on functionally relevant timescales in solution.
Computational techniques are also essential for reliable simulation of nucleic acids, integration of experimental
data from different sources, and comparison of models with experimental data at increasingly long timescales.
The NMR, Computation and Dynamics Core therefore brings together investigators from seven institutions who
have extensive and complementary expertise in applying and developing leading edge techniques for studying
the structure, interactions, and dynamics of RNA using NMR and advanced computational tools. Core
investigators are developing methods to probe increasingly large RNAs, tag RNAs with unique isotopic labels,
and determine the atomic resolution structures of RNA dynamic ensembles. These technologies will be applied
to challenging RNA systems to illuminate the role of HIV-1 RNA structural complexes in viral transcription,
splicing, nuclear export, translation, packaging, and particle assembly. In addition, the Core will provide general
NMR screening services, including design and preparation of isotopically labeled RNAs, data acquisition and
analysis, and will help all CRNA Research Projects make effective use of state-of-the-art tools in computational
structure calculation and refinement.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10505789
- **Project number:** 1U54AI170660-01
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN AT ANN ARBOR
- **Principal Investigator:** ALICE TELESNITSKY
- **Activity code:** U54 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $782,150
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2022-06-09 → 2027-03-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10505789

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10505789, Center for Structural Biology of HIV RNA (1U54AI170660-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10505789. Licensed CC0.

---

*[NIH grants dataset](/datasets/nih-grants) · CC0 1.0*