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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 12, 2026

Detection of Viral RNA by Fluorescence in situ Hybridization (FISH)

Detection of Viral RNA by Fluorescence in situ Hybridization (FISH)

Published on: May 5, 2012

Dimeric RNA recognition regulates HIV-1 genome packaging.

Olga A Nikolaitchik¹, Kari A Dilley, William Fu

¹HIV Drug Resistance Program, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, Maryland, United States of America.

|April 5, 2013

Summary

Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) tightly regulates genome packaging by recognizing one dimeric RNA molecule, not by RNA mass or copy number. This mechanism ensures two RNA copies are packaged, independent of size, for infectious virus generation.

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Detection of Viral RNA by Fluorescence in situ Hybridization (FISH)

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Published on: May 5, 2012

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Evaluation of the Efficacy And Toxicity of RNAs Targeting HIV-1 Production for Use in Gene or Drug Therapy

Evaluation of the Efficacy And Toxicity of RNAs Targeting HIV-1 Production for Use in Gene or Drug Therapy

Published on: September 5, 2016

Area of Science:

Virology
Molecular Biology
Genetics

Background:

Retroviruses, including human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1), exhibit tight regulation of their RNA genome packaging into virions.
Previous studies indicated that most HIV-1 particles contain two copies of the viral RNA genome.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the mechanism controlling the number of RNA genomes encapsidated into HIV-1 particles.
To differentiate between RNA mass and RNA copy number as regulatory mechanisms for genome packaging.

Main Methods:

Packaging of viral RNAs with sizes deviating significantly from wild-type HIV-1 (larger ≈17 kb, smaller ≈3 kb) was analyzed.
Packaging of viral RNAs with sequences promoting intermolecular or intramolecular (self-dimer) dimerization was examined.

Main Results:

HIV-1 particles consistently packaged two copies of the viral genome, irrespective of whether the RNA was larger or smaller than wild-type.
Analysis of self-dimeric RNAs revealed that one dimeric RNA molecule was packaged.
These findings indicate HIV-1 recognizes a single dimeric RNA rather than two separate RNA copies.

Conclusions:

HIV-1 regulates RNA genome encapsidation through the recognition of a dimeric RNA structure, not by RNA mass or individual copy number.
Dimeric RNA recognition is a critical mechanism governing HIV-1 genome packaging.
This regulatory process is essential for the generation of infectious retroviral particles.