The frameshift signal of HIV-1 involves a potential intramolecular triplex RNA structure.
basic_science · Level V
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- Record sourced from PubMed, PMID 11959986.
- Also identified by PMC identifier 122769.
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Abstract
The cis-acting mRNA elements that promote programmed -1 ribosomal frameshifting present a natural target for the rational design of antiretroviral chemotherapies. It has been commonly accepted that the HIV-1 frameshifting signal is special, because its downstream enhancer element consists of a simple mRNA stem loop rather than a more complex secondary structure such as a pseudoknot. Here we present three lines of evidence, bioinformatic, structural, and genetic, showing that the biologically relevant HIV-1 frameshift signal contains a complex RNA structure that likely includes an extended RNA triple-helix region. We suggest that the potential intramolecular triplex structure is essential for viral propagation and viability, and that small molecules targeted to this RNA structure may possess antiretroviral activities.
Medical subject headings
- DNA
- Frameshift Mutation
- HIV-1
- RNA, Messenger