FIG. 6.

Synthesis and nuclear translocation of viral DNA in G₂-growth-arrested MT4 cells infected with Vpr and/or MA NLS HIV-1 variants. Gamma-irradiated, growth-arrested MT4 cells were infected with HIV-1 variants containing single or double mutations in the MA NLS and/or Vpr at an MOI of 0.05 TCID₅₀/cell. At 48 h p.i., cell aliquots were harvested for isolation of total DNA and analysis of viral and cellular DNAs by PCR. Serial dilutions of DNA, as indicated, were analyzed by using primers corresponding to late products of reverse transcription (viral linear DNA) and to the 2-LTR circular form of viral DNA, which served as a marker for the nuclear transport of viral DNA (3). Equivalent amounts of cellular DNA were assayed by PCR with primers specific for the β-AR.