Efficient human immunodeficiency virus replication requires a fine-tuned level of transcription.
Transcription represents a crucial step in the life cycle of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and is highly regulated. Here we show that the strength of the viral long terminal repeat (LTR) promoter is optimized for efficient replication. Artificially increasing the rate of LTR-driven transcription was strongly detrimental for viral fitness, and HIV was able to regain replication capacity by selecting for variants with a weaker LTR. Strikingly, the strength of the evolved promoter was equivalent to that of the wild-type LTR.
Marzio
Giuseppe
G
Department of Human Retrovirology, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Vink
Monique
M
Verhoef
Koen
K
de Ronde
Anthony
A
Berkhout
Ben
B
D002460:Cell Line; D015967:Gene Expression Regulation, Viral; D016325:HIV Long Terminal Repeat / Q000235:genetics; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000378:metabolism; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D014779:Virus Replication
D012367:RNA, Viral