Biomaterial Database

HIV-1 reverse transcriptase discriminates against non-self tRNA primers. 1996

B B Oude Essink, and A T Das, and B Berkhout

Department of Human Retrovirology, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

The interactions between the Reverse Transcriptase (RT) of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) and the natural tRNA(Lys3) primer for initiation of viral DNA synthesis were examined. We constructed a set of HIV-1 RNA templates in which the wild-type primer binding site (PBS(Lys3)) is replaced by sequences complementary to tRNA(lle), tRNA(Lys1,2), tRNA(Phe), tRNA(Pro) or tRNA(Trp) and tested the ability of RT enzymes of different retroviral species to initiate cDNA synthesis from self versus non-self tRNA primers. We demonstrate that initiation of HIV-1 reverse transcription is a specific process that is most efficient with the self tRNA(Lys3) primer. Interestingly, the property of HIV-1 RT to discriminate against non-self tRNA primers is lost upon extension of the tRNA by only two deoxyribonucleotides. Furthermore, selective tRNA priming by HIV-1 RT was not observed with viral RNA-tRNA(Lys3) duplexes isolated from HIV-1 virion particles, suggesting that the majority of tRNA(Lys3) primers annealed to viral RNA in particles is extended by a variable number of deoxyribonucleotides. This result indicates that reverse transcription is initiated relatively early in nascently assembled virions.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D003854	Deoxyribonucleotides	A purine or pyrimidine base bonded to a DEOXYRIBOSE containing a bond to a phosphate group.	Deoxyribonucleotide
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D012313	RNA	A polynucleotide consisting essentially of chains with a repeating backbone of phosphate and ribose units to which nitrogenous bases are attached. RNA is unique among biological macromolecules in that it can encode genetic information, serve as an abundant structural component of cells, and also possesses catalytic activity. (Rieger et al., Glossary of Genetics: Classical and Molecular, 5th ed)	RNA, Non-Polyadenylated,Ribonucleic Acid,Gene Products, RNA,Non-Polyadenylated RNA,Acid, Ribonucleic,Non Polyadenylated RNA,RNA Gene Products,RNA, Non Polyadenylated
D012343	RNA, Transfer	The small RNA molecules, 73-80 nucleotides long, that function during translation (TRANSLATION, GENETIC) to align AMINO ACIDS at the RIBOSOMES in a sequence determined by the mRNA (RNA, MESSENGER). There are about 30 different transfer RNAs. Each recognizes a specific CODON set on the mRNA through its own ANTICODON and as aminoacyl tRNAs (RNA, TRANSFER, AMINO ACYL), each carries a specific amino acid to the ribosome to add to the elongating peptide chains.	Suppressor Transfer RNA,Transfer RNA,tRNA,RNA, Transfer, Suppressor,Transfer RNA, Suppressor,RNA, Suppressor Transfer
D012367	RNA, Viral	Ribonucleic acid that makes up the genetic material of viruses.	Viral RNA
D013698	Templates, Genetic	Macromolecular molds for the synthesis of complementary macromolecules, as in DNA REPLICATION; GENETIC TRANSCRIPTION of DNA to RNA, and GENETIC TRANSLATION of RNA into POLYPEPTIDES.	Genetic Template,Genetic Templates,Template, Genetic
D014158	Transcription, Genetic	The biosynthesis of RNA carried out on a template of DNA. The biosynthesis of DNA from an RNA template is called REVERSE TRANSCRIPTION.	Genetic Transcription
D014771	Virion	The infective system of a virus, composed of the viral genome, a protein core, and a protein coat called a capsid, which may be naked or enclosed in a lipoprotein envelope called the peplos.	Virus Particle,Viral Particle,Viral Particles,Particle, Viral,Particle, Virus,Particles, Viral,Particles, Virus,Virions,Virus Particles
D054303	HIV Reverse Transcriptase	A reverse transcriptase encoded by the POL GENE of HIV. It is a heterodimer of 66 kDa and 51 kDa subunits that are derived from a common precursor protein. The heterodimer also includes an RNAse H activity (RIBONUCLEASE H, HUMAN IMMUNODEFICIENCY VIRUS) that plays an essential role the viral replication process.	Reverse Transcriptase, HIV,Reverse Transcriptase, Human Immunodeficiency Virus,Transcriptase, HIV Reverse