Open AccessThe frameshift signal of HIV-1 involves a potential intramolecular triplex RNA structure
Author(s) -
Jonathan D. Dinman,
Sara N. Richter,
Ewan P. Plant,
Ronald C. Taylor,
Amy B. Hammell,
Tariq M. Rana
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
proceedings of the national academy of sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.011
H-Index - 771
eISSN - 1091-6490
pISSN - 0027-8424
DOI - 10.1073/pnas.082102199
Subject(s) - pseudoknot , translational frameshift , frameshift mutation , rna , stem loop , nucleic acid structure , biology , riboswitch , enhancer , computational biology , nucleic acid secondary structure , protein secondary structure , intramolecular force , genetics , microbiology and biotechnology , ribosome , chemistry , non coding rna , stereochemistry , mutation , gene , biochemistry , transcription factor
The cis-acting mRNA elements that promote programmed -1 ribosomal frameshifting present a natural target for the rational design of antiretroviral chemotherapies. It has been commonly accepted that the HIV-1 frameshifting signal is special, because its downstream enhancer element consists of a simple mRNA stem loop rather than a more complex secondary structure such as a pseudoknot. Here we present three lines of evidence, bioinformatic, structural, and genetic, showing that the biologically relevant HIV-1 frameshift signal contains a complex RNA structure that likely includes an extended RNA triple-helix region. We suggest that the potential intramolecular triplex structure is essential for viral propagation and viability, and that small molecules targeted to this RNA structure may possess antiretroviral activities.
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