HIV-1 Rev oligomerization is not obligatory in the presence of an extra basic domain.
BACKGROUND
The HIV-1 Rev regulatory protein binds as an oligomeric complex to viral RNA mediating nuclear export of incompletely spliced and non-spliced viral mRNAs encoding the viral structural proteins. However, the biological significance of the obligatory complex formation of Rev upon the viral RNA is unclear.


RESULTS
The activity of various fusion proteins based on the negative oligomerization-defect Rev mutant M4 was tested using Rev dependent reporter constructs. An artificial M4 mutant dimer and an M4 mutant containing an extra basic domain from the HTLV-I Rex protein exhibited nearly full activity when compared to wild type Rev.


CONCLUSIONS
Rev dimerization appears to be required to expose free basic domains whilst the Rev oligomeric complex remains bound to viral RNA via other basic domains.
Furnes
Clemens
C
Department of Molecular Biology, University of Bergen, N-5020 Bergen, Norway. Clemens.Furnes@mbi.uib.no
Arnesen
Thomas
T
Askjaer
Peter
P
Kjems
Jørgen
J
Szilvay
Anne Marie
AM
D021581:Active Transport, Cell Nucleus; D000818:Animals; D019556:COS Cells; D002460:Cell Line; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000378:metabolism; D002522:Chlorocebus aethiops; D003593:Cytoplasm / Q000378:metabolism; D019281:Dimerization; D015694:Gene Products, rev / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D009154:Mutation; D010957:Plasmids; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D014162:Transfection
D015694:Gene Products, rev; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D012367:RNA, Viral