Initiation of HIV-1 reverse transcription and functional role of nucleocapsid-mediated tRNA/viral genome interactions
HIV-1 reverse transcription is initiated from a tRNALys3 molecule annealed to the viral RNA
at the primer binding site (PBS). The annealing of tRNALys3 requires the opening of its three-
dimensional structure and RNA rearrangements to form an efficient initiation complex
recognized by the reverse transcriptase. This annealing is mediated by the nucleocapsid
protein (NC). In this paper, we first review the actual knowledge about HIV-1 viral RNA and
tRNALys3 structures. Then, we summarize the studies explaining how NC chaperones the …
at the primer binding site (PBS). The annealing of tRNALys3 requires the opening of its three-
dimensional structure and RNA rearrangements to form an efficient initiation complex
recognized by the reverse transcriptase. This annealing is mediated by the nucleocapsid
protein (NC). In this paper, we first review the actual knowledge about HIV-1 viral RNA and
tRNALys3 structures. Then, we summarize the studies explaining how NC chaperones the …