Forced Evolution of a Regulatory RNA Helix in the HIV-1 Genome

The 5'and 3'end of the HIV-1 RNA genome forms a repeat (R) element that encodes a double stem-loop structure (the TAR and polyA hairpins). Phylogenetic analysis of the polyA hairpin in different human and simian immunodeficiency viruses suggests that the thermodynamic stability of the helix is fine-tuned. We demonstrated previously that mutant HIV-1 genomes with a stabilized or destabilized hairpin are severely replication-impaired. In this study, we found that the mutant with a destabilized polyA hairpin structure is conditionally defective. Whereas reduced replication is measured in infections at the regular temperature (37 degrees C), this mutant is more fit than the wild-type virus at reduced temperature (33 degrees C). This observation of a temperature-dependent replication defect underscores that the stability of this RNA structure is critical for function. An extensive analysis of revertant viruses was performed to further improve the understanding of the critical sequence and structural features of the element under scrutiny. The virus mutants with a stabilized or destabilized hairpin were used as a starting point in multiple, independent selections for revertant viruses with compensatory mutations. Both mutants reverted to hairpins with wild-type stability along various pathways by acquisition of compensatory mutations. We identified 19 different revertant HIV-1 forms with improved replication characteristics, providing a first look at some of the peaks in the total sequence landscape that are compatible with virus replication. These experiments also highlight some general principles of RNA structure building.