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. 1996 Jun;70(6):4017–4027. doi: 10.1128/jvi.70.6.4017-4027.1996

A critical role for the TAR element in promoting efficient human immunodeficiency virus type 1 reverse transcription.

D Harrich 1, C Ulich 1, R B Gaynor 1
PMCID: PMC190280  PMID: 8648739

Abstract

The regulation of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) gene expression is dependent on the transactivator protein Tat and an RNA element extending from the transcription initiation site to +57 known as TAR. TAR forms a stable RNA secondary structure which is critical for high levels of HIV-1 gene expression and efficient viral replication. Using a genetic approach, we isolated HIV-1 mutants in TAR that were competent for high levels of gene expression but yet were markedly defective for viral replication. Single-cycle infections with these viruses demonstrated that they were defective in the initiation of reverse transcription. Additional mutational analysis revealed a variety of other HIV-1 TAR mutants with the same defective phenotype. Thus, in addition to the well-characterized role of the primer binding site, other RNA elements within the HIV-1 genome are also critical in the regulation of reverse transcription. These studies demonstrate that HIV-1 TAR RNA is a key regulator of the reverse transcription and illustrate how a unique RNA structure can modulate diverse regulatory processes in the HIV-1 life cycle crucial for efficient viral replication.

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Selected References

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