Regulation of HIV gene expression by RNA-protein interactions

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) gene expression is tightly controlled through the interaction of trans-acting regulatory proteins with the many cis-acting elements present in viral DNA and RNA. Two proteins encoded by HIV, referred to as Tat and Rev, are essential positive regulators of gene expression. Recent work shows that these proteins control HIV gene expression through interaction with RNA target elements present within the 5' untranslated leader sequence and envelope gene, respectively. There is evidence that these interactions in themselves are not sufficient to confer regulation without the presence of additional host cell factors.