A single stem-loop structure within the HTLV-1 Rex response element is sufficient to mediate Rex activity in vivo.
Journal Article (Journal Article)
The human T-cell leukemia virus (HTLV-1) Rex protein is required for the cytoplasmic expression of the incompletely spliced transcripts that encode the viral structural proteins. This effect is mediated by a highly structured cis-acting RNA element of 254 nucleotides termed the Rex response element, or RexRE. Here we demonstrate that one of the four known RexRE stem-loop structures as well as a 43-nt segment derived from this element is sufficient to mediate Rex function in vivo. Upon duplication, this stem-loop is shown to function as efficiently as the full-length RexRE. In vitro RNA binding analyses with wildtype and mutagenized RNA show that this stem-loop contains a high affinity binding site for Rex that coincides with a predicted bulge structure in the central part of this stem-loop. These results indicate that a small region of the RexRE containing a high affinity binding site is sufficient to mediate Rex function and suggest that sequences outside of this binding site have no unique role in mediating Rex regulation.
Full Text
Duke Authors
Cited Authors
- Gröne, M; Hoffmann, E; Berchtold, S; Cullen, BR; Grassmann, R
Published Date
- October 1994
Published In
Volume / Issue
- 204 / 1
Start / End Page
- 144 - 152
PubMed ID
- 8091649
International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)
- 0042-6822
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
- 10.1006/viro.1994.1518
Language
- eng
Conference Location
- United States