title: Effects of tRNA 3 Lys aminoacylation on the initiation of HIV-1 reverse transcription.
abstract: HIV-1 utilizes cellular tRNA(3)(Lys) to prime the initiation of reverse transcription. The selective incorporation of cytoplasmic tRNA(3)(Lys) into HIV-1 particles was recently shown to involve the lysyl-tRNA synthetase, and hence, the encapsidated tRNA(3)(Lys) is likely to be aminoacylated. Here, we tested the effect of aminoacylation on the initiation of reverse transcription. We show that HIV-1 reverse transcriptase is unable to extend lysyl-tRNA(3)(Lys). In addition, the viral polymerase does not significantly enhance the rate of tRNA deacylation, in contrast with previous studies on avian retroviruses. Thus, aminoacylation of the primer tRNA might prevent the initiation of HIV-1 reverse transcription from taking place before viral budding and maturation.
authors.affiliation: Unité Propre de Recherche 9002 du CNRS conventionnée à l'Université Louis-Pasteur, IBMC, 15, rue René-Descartes, 67084 cedex, Strasbourg, France.
authors.forename: Mickaël
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rigourd
authors.forename: Guillaume
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bec
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bénas
authors.forename: Stuart F J
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: Le Grice
authors.forename: Bernard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ehresmann
authors.forename: Chantal
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ehresmann
authors.forename: Roland
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Marquet
mesh_terms: D000123:Acetyltransferases / Q000378:metabolism; D000215:Acylation; D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D054303:HIV Reverse Transcriptase / Q000494:pharmacology; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000502:physiology*; D012313:RNA / Q000235:genetics; D012357:RNA, Transfer, Lys / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000187:drug effects; D014158:Transcription, Genetic / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D019065:Virus Assembly
chemical_list: C034477:RNA primers; D012357:RNA, Transfer, Lys; D012313:RNA; D000123:Acetyltransferases; D054303:HIV Reverse Transcriptase