Biochemical and Biophysical Studies of the Dimerization Process of HIV-RNA Genome

Abstract

HIV infection is correlated with the dimerization of retroviral RNA genomes.Retroviruses are the only known group of viruses that contain two identical (or nearly identical) copies of the RNA genome within the virion. These RNA genomes are non-covalently joined together through a process known as genomic RNA dimerization. Uniquely, the RNA dimerization of the retroviral genome is of crucial importance for efficient retroviral replication. RNA dimerization is the non-covalent process by which retroviruses carry two identical (or nearly identical) RNA genomes into the virion particle. In recent years, significant progress has been made towards elucidating the relationships between the conformation of RNA genomes, RNA dimerization and retroviral replication. Highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) has shown exceptional promise in prolonging the life expectancy for HIV-1-infected patients. However, the increasing frequency of multidrug-resistant HIV-1 mutants highlights the need for new antiviral drugs. Eradication of HIV-1 will require an effective strategy to control the emergence of multidrug-resistant mutants, and understanding the process of RNA dimerization might provide important clues for the development of RNA dimerization project in the light of designing anti-HIV drugs and inhibitors.