Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 29, 2026

Determining 3'-Termini and Sequences of Nascent Single-Stranded Viral DNA Molecules during HIV-1 Reverse Transcription in Infected Cells
Published on: January 30, 2019
Natural endogenous reverse transcription of HIV-1
H Zhang1, G Dornadula, R J Pomerantz
1Department of Medicine, Jefferson Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA.
Abstract:
Mechanisms involved with human immunodeficiency virus type I (HIV-1) sexual transmission are not fully defined. We have demonstrated that endogenous reverse transcription of lenti-viruses can occur within the intact virion. This takes place before direct infection of the target cells. In a biochemically active process, endogenous reverse transcription occurs in HIV-1 virions in specific microenvironments. In virions without non-physiological permeabilization, endogenous reverse transcription can occur and has been entitled natural endogenous reverse transcription (NERT). This molecular mechanism dramatically increases HIV-1 infection in initially-quiescent peripheral blood mononuclear cells, as well as non-proliferating cells such as macrophages. This molecular process may augment sexually transmission of HIV-1, as HIV virion particles in genital secretions are shown to have increased endogenous reverse transcripts and NERT is potently stimulated. Further studies are necessary to determine whether this molecular mechanism is critical in vivo for sexual transmission of this human lenti-viral agent.
More Related Videos
07:18High Throughput In Vitro Assessment of Latency Reversing Agents on HIV Transcription and Splicing
Published on: January 22, 2019
08:01Detection of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 (HIV-1) Antisense Protein (ASP) RNA Transcripts in Patients by Strand-Specific RT-PCR
Published on: November 27, 2019
Related Concept Videos
Retrovirus Life Cycles
Retroviruses
LTR Retrotransposons
The internal coding region of LTR retrotransposons and their mechanism of transposition closely resembles a...
Size and Structure of Viral Genomes
Viruses with RNA Genomes
Inhibitors of Virion Maturation and Assembly