Abstract:
The location of cis-acting regulatory sequences within the long terminal repeat (LTR) of the human T-cell lymphotropic virus type III was determined by eukaryotic cell transfection and chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) assay or in vitro cell-free transcription. A 160 base pair (bp) region of the LTR at position - 104 to 56 is required for trans-activation (cap site 1). A 24 bp enhancer element (EHE) capable of increasing the rate of transcription, irrespective of orientation, is located between nucleotides -105 to -80. It contains two 10 bp repeats. Three Sp1 binding sites (Sp1 III-I) are located between -78 and 45. A deletion of Sp1 III allowed for limited TATIII response while the presence of a functional enhancer restored the activity in HTLV-III infected cells. Complete loss of transcriptional activity and CAT gene expression could be attributed to the absence of EHE and Sp1 III-I at position -48. However, reinsertion of the enhancer restored accurate initiation but at a decreased level suggesting that the presence of a Sp1 binding site is not a prerequisite for the accurate initiation of transcription but is required for transcriptional activation independent of a promoter. The presence of a negative regulatory element (NRE) has been demonstrated by removal of the 5' part of U3 to position -117. Nucleotide sequences around the cap site and poly (A) site contain a trans-activator response element (TRE) and could be arranged into a unique secondary structure. A deletion of four nucleotides TCTGAGCCTGGGAGCTC causes a loss of three dimer linkage sequence binding. The CAT gene enzyme expression is completely abolished but transcriptional activity remains at reduced level.
Keywords: Acetyltransferases/GENETICS Amino Acid Sequence Base Sequence Cell Line DNA, Viral/GENETICS Enhancer Elements (Genetics) Genes, Regulator *Genes, Viral Human HIV/*GENETICS Molecular Sequence Data *Repetitive Sequences, Nucleic Acid Transcription Factors/METABOLISM Transfection JOURNAL ARTICLE
AEGiS presents published material, reprinted with permission and neither endorses nor opposes any material. All information contained on this website, including information relating to health conditions, products, and treatments, is for informational purposes only. It is often presented in summary or aggregate form. It is not meant to be a substitute for the advice provided by your own physician or other medical professionals. Always discuss treatment options with a doctor who specializes in treating HIV.