title: The major human immunodeficiency virus type 2 (HIV-2) packaging signal is present on all HIV-2 RNA species: cotranslational RNA encapsidation and limitation of Gag protein confer specificity.
abstract: Deletion of a region of the human immunodeficiency virus type 2 (HIV-2) 5' leader RNA reduces genomic RNA encapsidation to about 5% that of wild-type virus with no defect in viral protein production but severely limits virus spread in Jurkat T cells, indicating that this region contains a major cis-acting encapsidation signal, or psi (Psi). Being upstream of the major splice donor, it is present on all viral transcripts. We have shown that HIV-2 selects its genomic RNA for encapsidation cotranslationally, rendering wild-type HIV-2 unable to encapsidate vector RNAs in trans. Virus with Psi deleted, however, encapsidates an HIV-2 vector, demonstrating competition for Gag protein. HIV-2 overcomes the lack of packaging signal location specificity by two novel mechanisms, cotranslational packaging and competition for limiting Gag polyprotein.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of Cambridge, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge CB2 2QQ, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: S D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Griffin
authors.forename: J F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Allen
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Lever
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D019556:COS Cells; D015683:Gene Products, gag / Q000502:physiology*; D005822:Genetic Vectors; D015498:HIV-2 / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D019169:Jurkat Cells; D021382:Protein Sorting Signals; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000502:physiology*; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D019065:Virus Assembly; D014779:Virus Replication
chemical_list: D015683:Gene Products, gag; D021382:Protein Sorting Signals; D012367:RNA, Viral; D014764:Viral Proteins