A possible role for cysteine residues in the fidelity of DNA synthesis exhibited by the reverse transcriptases of human immunodeficiency viruses type 1 and type 2

Mary Bakhanashvili, Amnon Hizi*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

15 Scopus citations

Abstract

HIV reverse transcriptases (RTs) have few cysteine residues relative to other RTs and retain their DNA polymerization functions following chemical modification by thiol-specific reagents. The functional role of the cysteines in the fidelity of the DNA-dependent DNA synthesis of HIV RTs has been addressed by chemical modification of the wild-type enzymes in combination with the analysis of an enzymatically active mutant HIV-1 RT in which all cysteines were modified to serines. We have observed an increase in 3′-terminal mispair extension efficiency exhibited by chemically modified HIV-1 and HIV-2 RTs. The possible involvement of cysteine residues was further substantiated using the cysteine-free mutant HIV-1 RT that displays an increased efficiency of mispair extension. These results provide evidence for a possible role of cysteine residues in the fidelity of DNA synthesis catalyzed by HIV RTs.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)289-293
Number of pages5
JournalFEBS Letters
Volume304
Issue number2-3
DOIs
StatePublished - 15 Jun 1992

Funding

FundersFunder number
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious DiseasesR01AI027035

    Keywords

    • Cysteine
    • DNA synthesis
    • Fidelity
    • HIV
    • RT

    Fingerprint

    Dive into the research topics of 'A possible role for cysteine residues in the fidelity of DNA synthesis exhibited by the reverse transcriptases of human immunodeficiency viruses type 1 and type 2'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

    Cite this