Rev proteins of human and simian immunodeficiency virus enhance RNA encapsidation

  • The main function attributed to the Rev proteins of immunodeficiency viruses is the shuttling of viral RNAs containing the Rev responsive element (RRE) via the CRM-1 export pathway from the nucleus to the cytoplasm. This restricts expression of structural proteins to the late phase of the lentiviral replication cycle. Using Rev-independent \(\textit {gag-pol}\) expression plasmids of HIV-1 and simian immunodeficiency virus and lentiviral vector constructs, we have observed that HIV-1 and simian immunodeficiency virus Rev enhanced RNA encapsidation 20- to 70-fold, correlating well with the effect of Rev on vector titers. In contrast, cytoplasmic vector RNA levels were only marginally affected by Rev. Binding of Rev to the RRE or to a heterologous RNA element was required for Rev-mediated enhancement of RNA encapsidation. In addition to specific interactions of nucleocapsid with the packaging signal at the 5' end of the genome, the Rev/RRE system provides a second mechanism contributing to preferential encapsidation of genomic lentiviral RNA.

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Metadaten
Author:Sabine BrandtGND, Maik BlißenbachGND, Bastian GreweGND, Rebecca KonietznyGND, Thomas GrunwaldORCiDGND, Klaus Thomas ÜberlaGND
URN:urn:nbn:de:hbz:294-76303
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.ppat.0030054
Parent Title (English):PLoS pathogens
Publisher:PLoS
Place of publication:Lawrence
Document Type:Article
Language:English
Date of Publication (online):2020/11/11
Date of first Publication:2007/04/13
Publishing Institution:Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Universitätsbibliothek
Volume:3
Issue:4, Article e54
First Page:0518
Last Page:0525
Institutes/Facilities:Institut für Hygiene und Mikrobiologie, Abteilung für Molekulare und Medizinische Virologie
open_access (DINI-Set):open_access
Licence (English):License LogoCreative Commons - CC BY 4.0 - Attribution 4.0 International