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Mechanism of polypurine tract primer generation by HIV-1 reverse transcriptase. 2018

Małgorzata Figiel, and Miroslav Krepl, and Sangwoo Park, and Jarosław Poznański, and Krzysztof Skowronek, and Agnieszka Gołąb, and Taekjip Ha, and Jiří Šponer, and Marcin Nowotny
Laboratory of Protein Structure, International Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, 02-109 Warsaw, Poland.

HIV-1 reverse transcriptase (RT) possesses both DNA polymerase activity and RNase H activity that act in concert to convert single-stranded RNA of the viral genome to double-stranded DNA that is then integrated into the DNA of the infected cell. Reverse transcriptase-catalyzed reverse transcription critically relies on the proper generation of a polypurine tract (PPT) primer. However, the mechanism of PPT primer generation and the features of the PPT sequence that are critical for its recognition by HIV-1 RT remain unclear. Here, we used a chemical cross-linking method together with molecular dynamics simulations and single-molecule assays to study the mechanism of PPT primer generation. We found that the PPT was specifically and properly recognized within covalently tethered HIV-1 RT-nucleic acid complexes. These findings indicated that recognition of the PPT occurs within a stable catalytic complex after its formation. We found that this unique recognition is based on two complementary elements that rely on the PPT sequence: RNase H sequence preference and incompatibility of the poly(rA/dT) tract of the PPT with the nucleic acid conformation that is required for RNase H cleavage. The latter results from rigidity of the poly(rA/dT) tract and leads to base-pair slippage of this sequence upon deformation into a catalytically relevant geometry. In summary, our results reveal an unexpected mechanism of PPT primer generation based on specific dynamic properties of the poly(rA/dT) segment and help advance our understanding of the mechanisms in viral RNA reverse transcription.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D009690 Nucleic Acid Conformation The spatial arrangement of the atoms of a nucleic acid or polynucleotide that results in its characteristic 3-dimensional shape. DNA Conformation,RNA Conformation,Conformation, DNA,Conformation, Nucleic Acid,Conformation, RNA,Conformations, DNA,Conformations, Nucleic Acid,Conformations, RNA,DNA Conformations,Nucleic Acid Conformations,RNA Conformations
D009696 Nucleic Acids High molecular weight polymers containing a mixture of purine and pyrimidine nucleotides chained together by ribose or deoxyribose linkages. Nucleic Acid,Acid, Nucleic,Acids, Nucleic
D011061 Poly A A group of adenine ribonucleotides in which the phosphate residues of each adenine ribonucleotide act as bridges in forming diester linkages between the ribose moieties. Adenine Polynucleotides,Polyadenylic Acids,Poly(rA),Polynucleotides, Adenine
D011072 Poly U A group of uridine ribonucleotides in which the phosphate residues of each uridine ribonucleotide act as bridges in forming diester linkages between the ribose moieties. Polyuridylic Acids,Uracil Polynucleotides,Poly(rU),Acids, Polyuridylic,Polynucleotides, Uracil
D011119 Polynucleotides BIOPOLYMERS composed of NUCLEOTIDES covalently bonded in a chain. The most common examples are DNA and RNA chains. Polynucleotide
D011687 Purines A series of heterocyclic compounds that are variously substituted in nature and are known also as purine bases. They include ADENINE and GUANINE, constituents of nucleic acids, as well as many alkaloids such as CAFFEINE and THEOPHYLLINE. Uric acid is the metabolic end product of purine metabolism.
D004279 DNA, Viral Deoxyribonucleic acid that makes up the genetic material of viruses. Viral DNA
D001483 Base Sequence The sequence of PURINES and PYRIMIDINES in nucleic acids and polynucleotides. It is also called nucleotide sequence. DNA Sequence,Nucleotide Sequence,RNA Sequence,DNA Sequences,Base Sequences,Nucleotide Sequences,RNA Sequences,Sequence, Base,Sequence, DNA,Sequence, Nucleotide,Sequence, RNA,Sequences, Base,Sequences, DNA,Sequences, Nucleotide,Sequences, RNA
D012367 RNA, Viral Ribonucleic acid that makes up the genetic material of viruses. Viral RNA
D015497 HIV-1 The type species of LENTIVIRUS and the etiologic agent of AIDS. It is characterized by its cytopathic effect and affinity for the T4-lymphocyte. Human immunodeficiency virus 1,HIV-I,Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1,Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1, Human

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