Virion-associated, host-derived DHX9/RNA helicase A enhances the processivity of HIV-1 reverse transcriptase on genomic RNA.

ABSTRACT: DHX9/RNA helicase A (RHA) is a host RNA helicase that participates in many critical steps of the HIV-1 life cycle. It co-assembles with the viral RNA genome into the capsid core. Virions deficient in RHA are less infectious as a result of reduced reverse transcription efficiency, demonstrating that the virion-associated RHA promotes reverse transcription before the virion gains access to the new host's RHA. Here, we quantified reverse-transcription intermediates in HIV-1-infected T cells to clarify the mechanism by which RHA enhances HIV-1 reverse transcription efficiency. Consistently, purified recombinant human RHA promoted reverse transcription efficiency under in vitro conditions that mimic the early reverse transcription steps prior to capsid core uncoating. We did not observe

SUBMITTER: Brady S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6663884 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature