Programmed ribosomal frameshifting in SIV is induced by a highly structured RNA stem-loop.

ABSTRACT: Simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV), like its human homologues (HIV-1, HIV-2), requires a -1 translational frameshift event to properly synthesize all of the proteins required for viral replication. The frameshift mechanism is dependent upon a seven-nucleotide slippery sequence and a downstream RNA structure. In SIV, the downstream RNA structure has been proposed to be either a stem-loop or a pseudoknot. Here, we report the functional, structural and thermodynamic characterization of the SIV frameshift site RNA. Translational frameshift assays indicate that a stem-loop structure is sufficient to promote efficient frameshifting in vitro. NMR and thermodynamic studies of SIV RNA constructs of varying length further support the absence of any pseudoknot interaction and indicate the presence o

SUBMITTER: Marcheschi RJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2080864 | biostudies-literature | 2007 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature