De novo reverse transcription is a crucial event in cell-to-cell transmission of human immunodeficiency virus.
The proposal that replication of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1), mediated by cell-to-cell transmission of the virus, might bypass de novo reverse transcription was tested by using one-step cell-to-cell and cell-free virus infection systems. Two well characterized reverse transcriptase (RT) inhibitors, azidothymidine at 20 microM and phosphonoformic acid at 100 micrograms/ml, blocked HIV replication completely following both cell-free virus and cell-to-cell transmission infection, as determined from the kinetics of unintegrated viral DNA synthesis and supernatant RT production after virus infection. Our results confirm that de novo reverse transcription is a crucial and mandatory event in HIV-1 replication following cell-to-cell transmission of the virus.
Li
P
P
National Centre for HIV Virology Research, Institute of Medical and Veterinary Science, Adelaide, Australia.
Kuiper
L J
LJ
Stephenson
A J
AJ
Burrell
C J
CJ
D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000096:biosynthesis; D017245:Foscarnet; D054303:HIV Reverse Transcriptase; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010746:Phosphonoacetic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology; D012194:RNA-Directed DNA Polymerase / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D014779:Virus Replication / Q000187:drug effects*; D015215:Zidovudine / Q000494:pharmacology
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D004279:DNA, Viral; D017245:Foscarnet; D015215:Zidovudine; D054303:HIV Reverse Transcriptase; D012194:RNA-Directed DNA Polymerase; D010746:Phosphonoacetic Acid