6B19

Architecture of HIV-1 reverse transcriptase initiation complex core


Experimental Data Snapshot

  • Method: ELECTRON MICROSCOPY
  • Resolution: 4.50 Å
  • Aggregation State: PARTICLE 
  • Reconstruction Method: SINGLE PARTICLE 

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This is version 1.3 of the entry. See complete history


Literature

Architecture of an HIV-1 reverse transcriptase initiation complex.

Larsen, K.P.Mathiharan, Y.K.Kappel, K.Coey, A.T.Chen, D.H.Barrero, D.Madigan, L.Puglisi, J.D.Skiniotis, G.Puglisi, E.V.

(2018) Nature 557: 118-122

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-018-0055-9
  • Primary Citation of Related Structures:  
    6B19

  • PubMed Abstract: 

    Reverse transcription of the HIV-1 RNA genome into double-stranded DNA is a central step in viral infection 1 and a common target of antiretroviral drugs 2 . The reaction is catalysed by viral reverse transcriptase (RT) 3,4 that is packaged in an infectious virion with two copies of viral genomic RNA 5 each bound to host lysine 3 transfer RNA (tRNA Lys 3 ), which acts as a primer for initiation of reverse transcription 6,7 . Upon viral entry into cells, initiation is slow and non-processive compared to elongation 8,9 . Despite extensive efforts, the structural basis of RT function during initiation has remained a mystery. Here we use cryo-electron microscopy to determine a three-dimensional structure of an HIV-1 RT initiation complex. In our structure, RT is in an inactive polymerase conformation with open fingers and thumb and with the nucleic acid primer-template complex shifted away from the active site. The primer binding site (PBS) helix formed between tRNA Lys 3 and HIV-1 RNA lies in the cleft of RT and is extended by additional pairing interactions. The 5' end of the tRNA refolds and stacks on the PBS to create a long helical structure, while the remaining viral RNA forms two helical stems positioned above the RT active site, with a linker that connects these helices to the RNase H region of the PBS. Our results illustrate how RNA structure in the initiation complex alters RT conformation to decrease activity, highlighting a potential target for drug action.


  • Organizational Affiliation

    Program in Biophysics, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA.


Macromolecules

Find similar proteins by:  (by identity cutoff)  |  3D Structure
Entity ID: 1
MoleculeChains Sequence LengthOrganismDetailsImage
reverse transcriptase p66 subunit570Human immunodeficiency virus 1Mutation(s): 3 
EC: 2.7.7.49
UniProt
Find proteins for P03366 (Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 group M subtype B (isolate BH10))
Explore P03366 
Go to UniProtKB:  P03366
Entity Groups  
Sequence Clusters30% Identity50% Identity70% Identity90% Identity95% Identity100% Identity
UniProt GroupP03366
Sequence Annotations
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  • Reference Sequence
Find similar proteins by:  (by identity cutoff)  |  3D Structure
Entity ID: 2
MoleculeChains Sequence LengthOrganismDetailsImage
reverse transcriptase p51 subunit442Human immunodeficiency virus 1Mutation(s): 1 
EC: 2.7.7.49
UniProt
Find proteins for P03366 (Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 group M subtype B (isolate BH10))
Explore P03366 
Go to UniProtKB:  P03366
Entity Groups  
Sequence Clusters30% Identity50% Identity70% Identity90% Identity95% Identity100% Identity
UniProt GroupP03366
Sequence Annotations
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  • Reference Sequence
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Entity ID: 3
MoleculeChains LengthOrganismImage
RNA genome fragment101Human immunodeficiency virus 1
Sequence Annotations
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  • Reference Sequence
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Entity ID: 4
MoleculeChains LengthOrganismImage
tRNA lysine377Homo sapiens
Sequence Annotations
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  • Reference Sequence
Experimental Data & Validation

Experimental Data

  • Method: ELECTRON MICROSCOPY
  • Resolution: 4.50 Å
  • Aggregation State: PARTICLE 
  • Reconstruction Method: SINGLE PARTICLE 
EM Software:
TaskSoftware PackageVersion
RECONSTRUCTIONRELION
MODEL REFINEMENTPHENIX

Structure Validation

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Entry History & Funding Information

Deposition Data


Funding OrganizationLocationGrant Number
National Institutes of Health/National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIH/NIGMS)United StatesGM082545

Revision History  (Full details and data files)

  • Version 1.0: 2018-04-25
    Type: Initial release
  • Version 1.1: 2018-05-09
    Changes: Data collection, Database references
  • Version 1.2: 2020-01-01
    Changes: Author supporting evidence
  • Version 1.3: 2024-03-13
    Changes: Data collection, Database references