One family of viruses is responsible for the infection of many species of vertebrates. These are the retroviruses whose genomic RNA is used to support genetic information and ensures many essential functions that are required for the formation of an infectious viral particle. These functions depend on structures formed by the folding of the genomic RNA.
Structures and Functions of Retroviral RNAs describes the formation of these structures and their specific interactions with nucleic acids and proteins. In light of recent advances in molecular virology, it provides an understanding of the various facets of the retroviral genome. It emphasizes in particular that the study of the structure–function relationship of retroviral RNAs is a driving force behind increased research into HIV-1, the main causal agent of AIDS.
Indeed, one of the challenges of pharmacology lies in the exploitation of several targets which allow us to anticipate and stem the emergence of resistance to anti-HIV drugs. The book also presents structures and interactions that may be potential future targets in this regard.
Author(s): Philippe Fosse
Series: Biology Series: Nucleic Acids Set
Publisher: Wiley-ISTE
Year: 2022
Language: English
Pages: 179
City: London
Cover
Half-Title Page
Title Page
Copyright Page
Contents
Foreword
Preface
1. General Information on Retroviruses
1.1. Common characteristics of retroviruses
1.1.1. Untranslated regions
1.1.2. Translated regions
1.2. Architecture of the virion
1.3. Replication cycle of retroviruses
1.3.1. Early phase
1.3.2. Late phase
2. Effects of the Structure of Retroviral RNA on Reverse Transcription
2.1. Reverse transcription of genomic RNA
2.2. RNA structures involved in the initiation of reverse transcription
2.2.1. A cellular tRNA as RT primer
2.2.2. Formation of the template–primer duplex
2.2.3. Role of the structure of the template–primer duplex upon
2.3. RNA structures involved in the first strand transfer
2.3.1. Actors involved in the first strand transfer
2.3.2. Molecular basis of R–r pairing
2.4. RNA structures promoting genetic recombination
2.4.1. Internal strand transfer
2.4.2. RNA structures triggering internal strand transfer
3. RNA Structures Regulating the Expression of the Retroviral Genome
3.1. Regulatory RNA structures of proviral DNA transcription
3.1.1. The transcriptional activator Tat
3.1.2. TAR structures with one stem-loop
3.1.3. TAR structures with two stem-loops
3.2. RNA structures regulating genomic RNA maturation
3.2.1. The negative regulator of splicing of RSV
3.2.2. Structural diversity and alternative splicing in HIV-1
3.3. RNA structures regulating the export of retroviral RNAs
3.3.1. Export of unspliced RNA in simple retroviruses
3.3.2. Unspliced RNA export in complex retroviruses
3.4. RNA structures regulating the translation of retroviral RNAs
3.4.1. IRESs of simple retroviruses
3.4.2. Translation initiation in complex retroviruses
4. Encapsidation of Genomic RNA in the Retroviral Particle
4.1. RNA structures and mechanisms governing gRNA dimerization
4.1.1. Structures and mechanisms in alpharetroviruses
4.1.2. Structures and mechanisms in betaretroviruses
4.1.3. Structures and mechanisms in deltaretroviruses
4.1.4. Structures and mechanisms in gammaretroviruses
4.1.5. Structures and mechanisms in lentiviruses
4.2. RNA structures and mechanisms regulating gRNA encapsidation
4.2.1. Structures and mechanisms in alpharetroviruses
4.2.2. Structures and mechanisms in betaretroviruses
4.2.3. Structures and mechanisms in deltaretroviruses
4.2.4. Structures and mechanisms in gammaretroviruses
4.2.5. Structures and mechanisms in lentiviruses
Conclusion
Glossary
List of Acronyms
References
Index
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