Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 8, 2026

Determination of Molecular Structures of HIV Envelope Glycoproteins using Cryo-Electron Tomography and Automated Sub-tomogram Averaging
07:29

Determination of Molecular Structures of HIV Envelope Glycoproteins using Cryo-Electron Tomography and Automated Sub-tomogram Averaging

Published on: December 1, 2011

Analysis of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 reverse transcriptase subunit structure/function in the context of

Alok Mulky1, John C Kappes

  • 1University of Alabama at Birmingham, Department of Microbiology, LHRB 613, 701 South 19th Street, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA.

Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy
|August 30, 2005
PubMed

Insights

Researchers developed a new system to study human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) reverse transcriptase (RT) subunits. This method allows detailed analysis of RT structure and function in infectious virions and cells, aiding drug design and understanding viral replication.

Area of Science:

  • Virology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • Retroviral reverse transcriptase (RT) is essential for viral DNA synthesis.
  • Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) RT is a heterodimer (p51/p66) with distinct subunit functions.
  • Studying subunit-specific function is challenging due to shared precursor protein.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To describe a novel system for analyzing HIV-1 RT heterodimer (p51/p66) subunit structure and function.
  • To detail methods, strategies, and potential challenges for this novel assay.
  • To enable physiologically relevant studies of RT function in infectious virions and target cells.

Main Methods:

  • Development of a novel expression cassette (LTR-vpr-p51-IRES-p66).
  • Trans-complementation of an RT-deleted HIV-1 genome.
  • Analysis of RT heterodimer function in infectious virions and human cells.

Main Results:

  • The described system allows precise molecular analysis of the HIV-1 RT heterodimer.
  • The approach is applicable to infectious virions and human target cells.
  • Detailed strategies and potential pitfalls for assay application are provided.

Conclusions:

  • The novel system advances understanding of HIV-1 RT subunit structure/function and reverse transcription.
  • Subunit-specific virologic context studies offer new insights into antiretroviral drug resistance and viral fitness.
  • This approach facilitates elucidation of p51-p66 subunit interactions for structure-based drug design.

More Related Videos

Nucleocapsid Annealing-Mediated Electrophoresis (NAME) Assay Allows the Rapid Identification of HIV-1 Nucleocapsid Inhibitors08:33

Nucleocapsid Annealing-Mediated Electrophoresis (NAME) Assay Allows the Rapid Identification of HIV-1 Nucleocapsid Inhibitors

Published on: January 19, 2015

Determining 3'-Termini and Sequences of Nascent Single-Stranded Viral DNA Molecules during HIV-1 Reverse Transcription in Infected Cells13:07

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

Related Concept Videos

Retrovirus Life Cycles01:10

Retrovirus Life Cycles

Retroviruses have a single-stranded RNA genome that undergoes a special form of replication. Once the retrovirus has entered the host cell, an enzyme called reverse transcriptase synthesizes double-stranded DNA from the retroviral RNA genome. This DNA copy of the genome is then integrated into the host’s genome inside the nucleus via an enzyme called integrase. Consequently, the retroviral genome is transcribed into RNA whenever the host’s genome is transcribed, allowing the retrovirus to...
Introduction to Virus01:28

Introduction to Virus

Viruses are unique biological entities that blur the boundary between living and non-living systems. Although they lack cellular structure and metabolic processes, they can exhibit characteristics of life when infecting a host. Their defining feature is a nucleic acid core, composed of either DNA or RNA, encapsulated within a protein coat called a capsid. This simple structure allows them to invade host cells and use their machinery for replication efficiently.Viral Structure and...
Size and Structure of Viral Genomes01:26

Size and Structure of Viral Genomes

Viral genomes exhibit remarkable diversity in size, structure, and composition, influencing their replication strategies and interactions with host cells. These genomes consist of either DNA or RNA and may be linear or circular. Additionally, they can be single-stranded or double-stranded, with each configuration affecting how the virus propagates within a host. RNA viruses, for instance, generally have smaller genomes than DNA viruses, a factor that contributes to their high mutation rates and...
Viruses with RNA Genomes01:29

Viruses with RNA Genomes

RNA viruses are categorized into positive-strand, negative-strand, or double-stranded groups based on their genomic structure and replication mechanisms. This classification dictates how they exploit host cellular machinery for protein synthesis and replication. Some RNA viruses also utilize reverse transcription as part of their life cycle, further diversifying their replication strategies.Positive-Strand RNA VirusesPositive-strand RNA viruses have genomes that function directly as messenger...
Inhibitors Of Virion Release01:25

Inhibitors Of Virion Release

Viral replication and dissemination rely on efficient mechanisms for host cell entry, genome replication, assembly, and release. Influenza viruses, such as types A and B, are negative-sense single-stranded RNA viruses with a segmented genome, that depend on two critical surface glycoproteins to carry out these processes: hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA). HA initiates infection by binding to sialic acid residues on the surface of host epithelial cells, facilitating receptor-mediated...
Inhibitors of Virion Maturation and Assembly01:19

Inhibitors of Virion Maturation and Assembly

As part of their replication cycle, certain viruses synthesize long precursor proteins called polyproteins within infected host cells. In human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), two major polyproteins are produced: Gag and Gag-Pol. The Gag polyprotein supplies the structural components of the virus, while Gag-Pol includes essential viral enzymes such as reverse transcriptase, integrase, and protease. After synthesis, these polyproteins move to the host cell membrane, where they assemble into an...