Identification of new splice sites used for generation of rev transcripts in human immunodeficiency virus type 1 subtype C primary isolates

PLoS One. 2012;7(2):e30574. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0030574. Epub 2012 Feb 17.

Abstract

The HIV-1 primary transcript undergoes a complex splicing process by which more than 40 different spliced RNAs are generated. One of the factors contributing to HIV-1 splicing complexity is the multiplicity of 3' splice sites (3'ss) used for generation of rev RNAs, with two 3'ss, A4a and A4b, being most commonly used, a third site, A4c, used less frequently, and two additional sites, A4d and A4e, reported in only two and one isolates, respectively. HIV-1 splicing has been analyzed mostly in subtype B isolates, and data on other group M clades are lacking. Here we examine splice site usage in three primary isolates of subtype C, the most prevalent clade in the HIV-1 pandemic, by using an in vitro infection assay of peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Viral spliced RNAs were identified by RT-PCR amplification using a fluorescently-labeled primer and software analyses and by cloning and sequencing the amplified products. The results revealed that splice site usage for generation of rev transcripts in subtype C differs from that reported for subtype B, with most rev RNAs using two previously unreported 3'ss, one located 7 nucleotides upstream of 3'ss A4a, designated A4f, preferentially used by two isolates, and another located 14 nucleotides upstream of 3'ss A4c, designated A4g, preferentially used by the third isolate. A new 5' splice site, designated D2a, was also identified in one virus. Usage of the newly identified splice sites is consistent with sequence features commonly found in subtype C viruses. These results show that splice site usage may differ between HIV-1 subtypes.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Base Sequence
  • Exons / genetics
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Viral
  • HIV-1 / genetics*
  • HIV-1 / isolation & purification*
  • Humans
  • Introns / genetics
  • Leukocytes, Mononuclear / virology
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • RNA Splice Sites / genetics*
  • RNA Splicing / genetics*
  • RNA, Messenger / genetics
  • RNA, Messenger / metabolism
  • RNA, Viral / genetics
  • RNA, Viral / metabolism
  • Software
  • rev Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus / genetics*
  • rev Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus / metabolism

Substances

  • RNA Splice Sites
  • RNA, Messenger
  • RNA, Viral
  • rev Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus