Figure 2.

Interactions of RNA/DNA and DNA/DNA template/primers with HIV-1 RT. The two different template/primers (cyan/red) bind in the nucleic acid binding cleft of RT in a similar way. The RNA/DNA (panel A; PDB code 1hys) maintains the protein contacts seen in the complex with DNA/DNA (panel B, PDB code 2hmi) (these contacts are not shown in panel A. and has thirteen additional contacts. Nine of these contacts are through the 2′-OH group of the RNA sugar backbone (blue), whereas four are mediated through phosphate-backbone of RNA/DNA (plum). In panel B, the template-protein contacts are colored yellow and the primer-protein contacts are colored magenta.