Premium
How HIV‐1 Rev Gets its Groove On
Author(s) -
Colton Shan,
Herman Tim,
Giles Kurt,
Koo Ben,
Jeske Sabine,
Fernandes Jason,
DeBella Stan
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.24.1_supplement.499.9
Subject(s) - rna , computational biology , function (biology) , domain (mathematical analysis) , human immunodeficiency virus (hiv) , rna binding protein , biology , microbiology and biotechnology , virology , genetics , gene , mathematical analysis , mathematics
HIV‐1 Rev is an essential viral regulatory protein. Rev is responsible for nuclear export of partially and unspliced viral RNAs; these viral RNAs are required for the production of essential late‐stage viral proteins such as Gag and Env, and also serve as genomic RNAs for virion packaging. Rev's structure is key to understanding its function. Rev has several major domains, including an arginine rich RNA binding domain. This domain forms a marginally stable alpha helix that binds a major groove in the viral RNA. We have built physical 3D models of Rev as well as a portion of the HIV‐1 RNA that Rev recognizes, the Rev Response Element (RRE). These models allow us to visually illustrate the details of this important RNA‐protein interaction. A better understanding this interaction could allow for novel anti‐HIV therapies that target this essential interaction. The SMART (Students Modeling A Research Topic) program was established by the Center of BioMolecular Modeling at the Milwaukee School of Engineering and involves partnerships between university researchers and local high schools. This work is funded by NIH‐NCRR‐SEPA and HHMI.