Multiple copies of the Mason-Pfizer monkey virus constitutive RNA transport element lead to enhanced HIV-1 Gag expression in a context-dependent manner.

ABSTRACT: Retroviral gene expression requires nuclear export and translation of incompletely spliced RNA. In the case of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), this is facilitated by the viral Rev protein binding to its cognate RNA response element (RRE), while other retroviruses contain constitutive transport elements (CTE) binding to cellular factors. These CTE can substitute for the HIV-1 Rev/RRE system, albeit with reduced efficiency. Here, we show that multimeric copies of the CTE restore HIV-1 protein expression to levels comparable to or higher than Rev/RRE in various cell lines from different species. We suggest that multimerization of export factors is important for CTE function, as reported for Rev. CTE function was not affected when the element was displaced from its natural position close t

SUBMITTER: Wodrich H 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC102582 | biostudies-literature | 2000 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature