HIV-1 A-rich RNA loop mimics the tRNA anticodon structure.
Puglisi, E.V., Puglisi, J.D.(1998) Nat Struct Biol 5: 1033-1036
- PubMed: 9846871 
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/4141
- Primary Citation of Related Structures:  
1BVJ - PubMed Abstract: 
Interaction of HIV-1 genomic RNA and human tRNA(Lys)3 initiates viral reverse transcription. An adenosine-rich (A-rich) loop in HIV RNA mediates complex formation between tRNA and viral RNA. We have determined the structure of an A-rich loop oligonucleotide using nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. The loop structure is stabilized by a noncanonical G-A pair and a U-turn motif, which leads to stacking of the conserved adenosines. The structure has similarity to the tRNA anticodon structure, and suggests possible mechanisms for its role in initiation of reverse transcription.
Organizational Affiliation: 
Department of Structural Biology, Stanford University School of Medicine, California 94305-5400, USA.