TABLE 2.

Relative recombination rates during retroviral life cycle for JZ481

Stage in cyclea	Rate (%)	Distributionf (%)
Minus-strand DNA synthesis	45.8b	>99.15
Plus-strand DNA synthesis	<0.3c	<0.65
Viral RNA transcription	<0.1d	<0.2
Provirus replication	0.85 × 10−5e	Negligible
Total	46.2	100

^aFour stages comprise one single round of a retroviral life cycle.

^bThe rate was determined by subtracting the portions of plus-strand DNA synthesis (0.3%) and of viral RNA transcription (0.1%) from the overall rate (46.2%).

^cThe rate of recombination during plus-strand DNA synthesis was determined as described in Table 1.

^dThe rate of recombination during viral RNA transcription was estimated on the basis of flow cytometry analysis.

^eThe frequency of recombination at the DNA level was determined as the number of green cells per cell division. The mean value is 0.85 × 10⁻⁵ (14).

^fThe relative distribution of the recombination events during transmission of the viral genetic information through the four types of macromolecules was determined by the ratio of the rate at each stage over the overall rate (46.2%).