Effects of tRNA 3Lys aminoacylation on the initiation of HIV-1 reverse transcription

Abstract

HIV-1 utilizes cellular tRNA 3 Lys to prime the initiation of reverse transcription. The selective incorporation of cytoplasmic tRNA 3 Lys into HIV-1 particles was recently shown to involve the lysyl-tRNA synthetase, and hence, the encapsidated tRNA 3 Lys is likely to be aminoacylated. Here, we tested the effect of aminoacylation on the initiation of reverse transcription. We show that HIV-1 reverse transcriptase is unable to extend lysyl-tRNA 3 Lys. In addition, the viral polymerase does not significantly enhance the rate of tRNA deacylation, in contrast with previous studies on avian retroviruses. Thus, aminoacylation of the primer tRNA might prevent the initiation of HIV-1 reverse transcription from taking place before viral budding and maturation.