Destabilization of tRNA3Lys from the primer-binding site of HIV-1 genome by anti-A loop polyamide nucleotide analog

Abstract

Initiation of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) reverse transcription occurs by extension of the cellular tRNA3Lys which anneals to the primer-binding site (PBS) on the 5′ non-translated region of the viral RNA genome. The A-rich sequence (A-loop) upstream of the PBS interacts with the anticodon loop of tRNA3Lys and has been proposed to be essential for conferring specificity to tRNA3Lys for priming the initiation of HIV-1 reverse transcription. We observed that polyamide nucleic acid targeted to the A-loop sequence (PNAAL) exhibits high binding specificity for its target sequence. The PNAAL pre-bound to the A-loop sequence prevents tRNA3Lys priming on the viral RNA consequently blocking in vitro initiation of reverse transcription. Further, PNAAL can efficiently disrupt the preformed [tRNA3Lys-viral RNA] complex thereby rendering it non-functional for reverse transcription. The endogenous reverse transcription in disrupted HIV-1 virions containing packaged tRNA3Lys and its replicating enzyme RT was significantly inhibited by PNAAL, thus providing direct evidence of the involvement of the A-loop region of viral RNA genome in tRNA3Lys priming process. These findings suggest the potential of the A-loop region as a critical target for blocking HIV-1 replication.