# Biochemistry core

> **NIH NIH U19** · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN FRANCISCO · 2022 · $1,581,084

## Abstract

CORE 1: BIOCHEMISTRY
SUMMARY
In support of QCRG Pandemic Response Program overall and Project goals, the Biochemistry Core will 
develop, optimize and execute viral protein expression, purification, and activity assays for structure and 
functional characterization. This includes suitable presentation of viral proteins in formats for: (1) high resolution 
structure determination of individual proteins and multi-subunit complexes; (2) screening effective hit and lead 
compounds; and (3) co-structure determination with hit and lead compounds for structure-based lead 
optimization and drug discovery. The QCRG Pandemic Response Program Project portfolio currently focuses 
on proteins from viruses with pandemic potential and proteins that have high potential for druggability. These 
viruses include 7 species of human coronaviruses (SARS-CoV-2, SARS-CoV, MERS-CoV, OC43, NL63, HKU1, 
229E), flaviviruses (dengue, zika), togaviruses (chikungunya virus, Sindbis, Semliki forest, Ross river), and 
picornaviruses (EV-D68, EV-A71). Specifically, we will provide consistent, high level protein purification of 
protease (PR) and polymerase (Pol) targets from coronaviruses (e.g. Nsp3, Nsp5, Nsp7, Nsp8, Nsp12) and 
enteroviruses (e.g. 2A and 3Dpol) (Project 2); E and M coronavirus membrane proteins, and the viroporin '6K' 
protein from Alphaviruses of the Togaviridae chikungunya, Sindbis, Semliki forest, Ross river (Project 3); 
coronavirus methyltransferases (e.g. Nsp10, Nsp14, and Nsp16) (Project 4); the macrodomain of Nsp3 from 
SARS-CoV-2 and chikungunya (Project 5); and N and Orf9b from coronaviruses, and the N protein of zika, 
dengue, and HPIV3 (Project 6). Having expressed 15 proteins from the 23 coded by SARS-CoV-2 we have 
established feasibility for these and developed technologies that can be adapted and evolved toward expression 
and purification for all intended targets from other viruses (for summary see Research Strategy, Table 1).

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10512619
- **Project number:** 1U19AI171110-01
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN FRANCISCO
- **Principal Investigator:** Robert M Stroud
- **Activity code:** U19 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $1,581,084
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2022-05-16 → 2026-04-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10512619

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10512619, Biochemistry core (1U19AI171110-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-29 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10512619. Licensed CC0.

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