Sequence-specific RNA binding by the HIV-1 Rev protein

• Published in: Nature (London) 1989-12, Vol.342 (6250), p.714-716
• Main Authors: Zapp, Maria L., Green, Michael R.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acquired immune deficiency syndrome; AIDS; AIDS/HIV; Base Sequence; Binding Sites; Cloning, Molecular; DNA Restriction Enzymes; Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; Escherichia coli - genetics; Gene Expression - drug effects; Gene Products, rev - genetics; Gene Products, rev - metabolism; HIV-1; Human immunodeficiency virus 1; Humanities and Social Sciences; Immunoblotting; Immunologic Techniques; Isopropyl Thiogalactoside - pharmacology; letter; Medical research; multidisciplinary; Plasmids; Proteins; rev Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus; Ribonucleases - metabolism; RNA, Viral - metabolism; Science; Science (multidisciplinary); Trans-Activators - metabolism
• ISSN: 0028-0836; 1476-4687
• DOI: 10.1038/342714a0

THE human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) Rev protein acts post-transcriptionally to increase the amounts of the viral gag-pol and env messenger RNAs in the cytoplasm of infected cells 1,2 . The mechanism of Rev action is uncertain. Possibilities include an accelerating effect on the rate of export of its mRNA targets from the nucleus 3–6 and/or modulation of the splicing of pre-mRNAs (reviewed in ref. 7). Both the gag-pol and env mRNAs contain a sequence that is required for responsiveness to Rev—the Rev responsive element, RRE 3,4,6,8 . Here we show that Rev is a sequence-specific binding protein, whose binding site is the RRE. This information should help to clarify the mechanism by which Rev acts.