title: Isolated HIV-1 core is active for reverse transcription.
abstract: Whether purified HIV-1 virion cores are capable of reverse transcription or require uncoating to be activated is currently controversial. To address this question we purified cores from a virus culture and tested for the ability to generate authentic reverse transcription products. A dense fraction (approximately 1.28 g/ml) prepared without detergent, possibly derived from disrupted virions, was found to naturally occur as a minor sub-fraction in our preparations. Core-like particles were identified in this active fraction by electron microscopy. We are the first to report the detection of authentic strong-stop, first-strand transfer and full-length minus strand products in this core fraction without requirement for an uncoating activity.
authors.affiliation: Division of Immunology and Infectious Disease, Queensland Institute of Medical Research, Brisbane, Queensland, 4006, Australia. David.Warrilow@qimr.edu.au
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Warrilow
authors.forename: Deborah
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Stenzel
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Harrich
mesh_terms: D015497:HIV-1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D048348:Reverse Transcription; D014771:Virion / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000472:pathogenicity / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D014779:Virus Replication / Q000502:physiology*