Mechanism of translation of monocistronic and multicistronic human immunodeficiency virus type 1 mRNAs.

AUTOR(ES)

Schwartz, S

RESUMO

We have used a panel of cDNA clones expressing wild-type and mutant human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) mRNAs to study translation of these mRNAs in eucaryotic cells. The tat open reading frame (ORF) has a strong signal for translation initiation, while rev and vpu ORFs have weaker signals. The expression of downstream ORFs is inhibited in mRNAs that contain the tat ORF as the first ORF. In contrast, downstream ORFs are expressed efficiently from mRNAs that have rev or vpu as the first ORF. All env mRNAs contain the upstream vpu ORF. Expression of HIV-1 Env protein requires a weak vpu AUG, which allows leaky scanning to occur, thereby allowing ribosomes access to the downstream env ORF. We concluded that HIV-1 mRNAs are translated by the scanning mechanism and that expression of more than one protein from each mRNA was caused by leaky scanning at the first AUG of the mRNA.

Documentos Relacionados

• The Rev protein of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 promotes polysomal association and translation of gag/pol and vpu/env mRNAs.
• Characterization and translation of transmissible gastroenteritis virus mRNAs.
• Env and Vpu proteins of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 are produced from multiple bicistronic mRNAs.
• Mechanism of selective translation of vaccinia virus mRNAs: differential role of poly(A) and initiation factors in the translation of viral and cellular mRNAs.
• Influenza virus NS1 protein enhances the rate of translation initiation of viral mRNAs.