Alpha helix-RNA major groove recognition in an HIV-1 rev peptide-RRE RNA complex

Science. 1996 Sep 13;273(5281):1547-51. doi: 10.1126/science.273.5281.1547.

Abstract

The solution structure of a human immunodeficiency virus type-1 (HIV-1) Rev peptide bound to stem-loop IIB of the Rev response element (RRE) RNA was solved by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. The Rev peptide has an alpha-helical conformation and binds in the major groove of the RNA near a purine-rich internal loop. Several arginine side chains make base-specific contacts, and an asparagine residue contacts a G.A base pair. The phosphate backbone adjacent to a G.G base pair adopts an unusual structure that allows the peptide to access a widened major groove. The structure formed by the two purine-purine base pairs of the RRE creates a distinctive binding pocket that the peptide can use for specific recognition.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Arginine / chemistry
  • Asparagine / chemistry
  • Base Composition
  • Base Sequence
  • DNA-Binding Proteins*
  • Fungal Proteins / chemistry
  • Gene Products, rev / chemistry*
  • Gene Products, rev / metabolism*
  • Genes, env*
  • HIV-1 / chemistry*
  • Hydrogen Bonding
  • Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy
  • Models, Molecular
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Nucleic Acid Conformation*
  • Protein Kinases / chemistry
  • Protein Structure, Secondary*
  • RNA, Viral / chemistry*
  • RNA, Viral / genetics
  • RNA, Viral / metabolism
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins*
  • Threonine / chemistry
  • rev Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus

Substances

  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • Fungal Proteins
  • Gene Products, rev
  • RNA, Viral
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins
  • rev Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus
  • Threonine
  • Asparagine
  • Arginine
  • Protein Kinases