Tat-responsive region RNA of human immunodeficiency virus 1 can prevent activation of the double-stranded-RNA-activated protein kinase.
Transcription from the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 promoter gives rise to short cytoplasmic transcripts of approximately 60 nucleotides as well as to longer mRNAs. These RNAs contain the Tat-responsive region sequence, which is capable of assuming a stem-loop structure and has been implicated in the regulation of both transcription and translation. It has been reported that Tat-responsive region RNA inhibits translation in vitro through activation of an interferon-induced protein kinase, the double-stranded-RNA-activated inhibitor, which phosphorylates eukaryotic initiation factor 2. We show that the activation property is due to double-stranded RNA that often contaminates RNA synthesized in vitro using bacteriophage RNA polymerases. After purification, high concentrations of Tat-responsive region RNA inhibit the activation of double-stranded RNA-activated inhibitor, suggesting that it may serve to protect human immunodeficiency virus type 1 infection from a cellular defense mechanism.
Gunnery
S
S
Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, NY 11724.
Rice
A P
AP
Robertson
H D
HD
Mathews
M B
MB
D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D004789:Enzyme Activation; D015696:Gene Products, tat / Q000502:physiology; D016325:HIV Long Terminal Repeat; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000235:genetics*; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D011494:Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism*; D012330:RNA, Double-Stranded / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D012045:Regulatory Sequences, Nucleic Acid; D012260:Ribonucleases / Q000494:pharmacology; D019892:eIF-2 Kinase; D054322:tat Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus
D015696:Gene Products, tat; D012330:RNA, Double-Stranded; D012367:RNA, Viral; D054322:tat Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus; D011494:Protein Kinases; D019892:eIF-2 Kinase; D012260:Ribonucleases