title: Dimerization of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 RNA involves sequences located upstream of the splice donor site.
abstract: The retroviral genome consists of two homologous RNA molecules associated close to their 5' ends. We studied the spontaneous dimerization of four HIV-1 RNA fragments (RNAs 1-707, 1-615, 311-612, and 311-415) containing the previously defined dimerization domain, and a RNA fragment (RNA 1-311) corresponding to the upstream sequences. Significant dimerization of all RNAs is observed on agarose gels when magnesium is included in the electrophoresis buffer. In contrast to dimerization of RNAs 311-612 and 311-415, dimerization of RNAs 1-707, 1-615 and 1-311 strongly depends on the size of the monovalent cation present in the incubation buffer. Also, dimerization of RNAs 1-707, 1-615, and 1-311 is 10 times faster than that of RNAs 311-612 and 311-415. The dimers formed by the latter RNAs are substantially more stable than that of RNA 1-615, while RNA 1-311 dimer is 5-7 degrees C less stable than RNA 1-615 dimer. These results indicate that dimerization of HIV-1 genomic RNA involves elements located upstream of the splice donor site (position 305), i.e. outside of the previously defined dimerization domain.
authors.affiliation: Unité Propre de Recherche 9002, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Strasbourg, France.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Marquet
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Paillart
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Skripkin
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ehresmann
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ehresmann
mesh_terms: D001483:Base Sequence; D002412:Cations; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000235:genetics*; D007700:Kinetics; D046911:Macromolecular Substances; D008274:Magnesium; D008956:Models, Chemical; D008957:Models, Genetic; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D012326:RNA Splicing; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000737:chemistry*; D013816:Thermodynamics
chemical_list: D002412:Cations; D046911:Macromolecular Substances; D012367:RNA, Viral; D008274:Magnesium