Low-level alternative tRNA priming of reverse transcription of HIV-1 and SIV in vivo

摘要

BackgroundReverse transcription (RT) of HIV and SIV is initiated by the binding of the acceptor stem of tRNA^Lys3 to the primer binding site (PBS) of the viral RNA genome. Previous studies have suggested that this tRNA^Lys3 is not the only molecule capable of priming reverse transcription, and that at least one other lysyl tRNA, tRNA^Lys5, which has an acceptor stem sequence varying from tRNA^Lys3 by only a single transition mutation resulting in the integration of a thymine (T) at position 8 of the PBS in the viral genome, can prime reverse transcription.