FIG. 9.

Model for HIV-1 reverse transcription. Shown is a schematic of the secondary structure in the PBS region of the HIV-1 RNA genome (black line) and the secondary structure of the tRNA3Lys molecule (orange line; AC, anticodon loop; D, D loop) that is used as a primer for reverse transcription. The tRNA primer with its 3"-terminal 18 nt anneals to the PBS for reverse transcription (PBS and anti-PBS are green), but an additional interaction between the PAS in the viral RNA and the anti-PAS in the tRNA primer (orange) is necessary for efficient initiation and elongation of reverse transcription.