Architecture of an HIV-1 reverse transcriptase initiation complex.

ABSTRACT: Reverse transcription of the HIV-1 RNA genome into double-stranded DNA is a central step in viral infection ¹ and a common target of antiretroviral drugs ² . The reaction is catalysed by viral reverse transcriptase (RT)^3,4 that is packaged in an infectious virion with two copies of viral genomic RNA ⁵ each bound to host lysine 3 transfer RNA (tRNA^Lys₃), which acts as a primer for initiation of reverse transcription^6,7. Upon viral entry into cells, initiation is slow and non-processive compared to elongation^8,9. Despite extensive efforts, the structural basis of RT function during initiation has remained a mystery. Here we use cryo-electron microscopy to determine a three-dimensional structure of an HIV-

SUBMITTER: Larsen KP 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5934294 | biostudies-literature | 2018 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature