The HIV 5' Gag Region Displays a Specific Nucleotide Bias Regulating Viral Splicing and Infectivity.

ABSTRACT: Alternative splicing and the expression of intron-containing mRNAs is one hallmark of HIV gene expression. To facilitate the otherwise hampered nuclear export of non-fully processed mRNAs, HIV encodes the Rev protein, which recognizes its intronic response element and fuels the HIV RNAs into the CRM-1-dependent nuclear protein export pathway. Both alternative splicing and Rev-dependency are regulated by the primary HIV RNA sequence. Here, we show that these processes are extremely sensitive to sequence alterations in the 5'coding region of the HIV genomic RNA. Increasing the GC content by insertion of either GFP or silent mutations activates a cryptic splice donor site in gag, entirely deregulates the viral splicing pattern, and lowers infectivity. Interestingly, an adaptation of the inser

SUBMITTER: Grewe B 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8227319 | biostudies-literature | 2021 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature