Rev protein suppression of complex formation between nuclear proteins and rev-responsive element-containing RNA of human immunodeficiency virus-1

The Rev protein from human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) is known to bind Rev responsive element (RRE) sequence of HIV-1 mRNA. This interaction is thought to enhance expression of viral structural proteins but the mechanism for this effect is uncertain. The aim of this study was to investigate (i) whether other cellular proteins also bind to the RRE sequence and (ii) whether binding of cellular proteins to RRE RNA is influenced by Rev protein. Our results revealed that a variety of RNA-protein complexes are formed when in vitro transcribed RRE-containing RNA is incubated with proteins present in HeLa nuclear extracts. The molecular masses of the most prominent bands in RNase protect…