Retrovirus genome replication: priming specificities of plus-strand DNA synthesis.
The retroviral reverse transcriptase is a multifunctional protein. Not only does it contain both RNA- and DNA-directed DNA synthesis activities but also it contains an endonuclease activity necessary for the integration of viral RNA and a RNase H. This latter activity can reduce to oligoribonucleotides viral RNA that has been reverse transcribed into minus-strand DNA. However, during avian retrovirus genome replication it does this in a highly specific manner so as to generate a specific 12-base primer for plus-strand DNA synthesis. Even though many other oligoribonucleotides are also made there is an efficient selection of the specific primer followed by its efficient utilization in plus-strand DNA synthesis, and subsequent removal. We have used a reconstructed system to gain an understanding of the factors that contribute towards these observed specificities.
D004261:DNA Replication; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics*; D005814:Genes, Viral; D008957:Models, Genetic; D012367:RNA, Viral; D012190:Retroviridae / Q000235:genetics*; D014779:Virus Replication
D004279:DNA, Viral; D012367:RNA, Viral