title: HIV-1 as RNA evolution machine.
abstract: We have over the years studied several sequence or structural elements within the HIV-1 RNA genome. Molecular mechanisms have been proposed for the role of these RNA motifs in virus replication. We have developed HIV-1 evolution as a powerful research method to study different aspects of the viral replication cycle. In this manuscript, I will illustrate the unique capacity of this method to reveal new mechanistic information about viral replication strategies. Examples of HIV-1 RNA evolution that were presented at the 2009 Cantoblanco meeting in Madrid will be discussed, ranging from the control of HIV-1 splicing by RNA structure to the role of cellular tRNA molecules as adaptors in an unusual HIV-1 recombination event, and from regulation of polyadenylation by RNA structure to viral escape from therapeutic pressure imposed by antiviral RNA interference.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Experimental Virology, Department of Medical Microbiology, Center for Infectivity and Immunity Amsterdam (CINIMA), Academic Medical Center (AMC), University of Amsterdam, the Netherlands. b.berkhout@amc.uva.nl
authors.forename: Ben
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Berkhout
mesh_terms: D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D016679:Genome, Viral / Q000235:genetics*; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D012194:RNA-Directed DNA Polymerase / Q000378:metabolism; D011995:Recombination, Genetic; D014779:Virus Replication
chemical_list: D012194:RNA-Directed DNA Polymerase