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. 1992 Mar;66(3):1809–1813. doi: 10.1128/jvi.66.3.1809-1813.1992

Efficient replication of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 requires a threshold level of Rev: potential implications for latency.

R J Pomerantz 1, T Seshamma 1, D Trono 1
PMCID: PMC240948  PMID: 1738210

Abstract

The Rev protein of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) is essential for the expression of the structural genes of HIV-1. To determine whether a functional threshold level of Rev is required to allow efficient HIV-1 replication, CD4-positive HeLa cells, constitutively expressing a Rev-deficient provirus, were transfected with various quantities of a Rev-expressing plasmid. Compared with the quantity of the Rev-producing plasmid transfected, HIV-1 replication was distinctly nonlinear as measured by HIV-1 p24 antigen and HIV-1-specific RNA production. A quantitative RNA polymerase chain reaction (PCR) demonstrated that Rev mRNA expression was linearly correlated with the quantity of Rev-expressing plasmid which was transfected into these cells. These data suggest that a critical threshold of Rev is required for a highly productive HIV-1 infection. This threshold level of Rev may be involved in the generation and maintenance of HIV-1 proviral latency.

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Selected References

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