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Article
Characterization of Functional Domains of Equine Infectious Anemia Virus Rev Suggests a Bipartite RNA-Binding Domain
Nebraska Center for Virology: Faculty Publications
  • Jae-Hyung Lee, Iowa State University
  • Sean C. Murphy, Iowa State University
  • Michael Belshan, Creighton University
  • Wendy O. Sparks, Iowa State University
  • Yvonne Wannemuehler, Iowa State University
  • Sijun Liu, Iowa State University
  • Thomas J. Hope, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois
  • Drena Dobbs, Iowa State University
  • Susan Carpenter, Iowa State University
Date of this Version
4-1-2006
Disciplines
Comments
Published in JOURNAL OF VIROLOGY, Apr. 2006, p. 3844–3852 Vol. 80, No. 8. 0022-538X doi:10.1128/JVI.80.8.3844–3852.2006 Copyright © 2006, American Society for Microbiology. Used by permission.
Abstract

Equine infectious anemia virus (EIAV) Rev is an essential regulatory protein that facilitates expression of viral mRNAs encoding structural proteins and genomic RNA and regulates alternative splicing of the bicistronic tat/rev mRNA. EIAV Rev is characterized by a high rate of genetic variation in vivo, and changes in Rev genotype and phenotype have been shown to coincide with changes in clinical disease. To better understand how genetic variation alters Rev phenotype, we undertook deletion and mutational analyses to map functional domains and to identify specific motifs that are essential for EIAV Rev activity. All functional domains are contained within the second exon of EIAV Rev. The overall organization of domains within Rev exon 2 includes a nuclear export signal, a large central region required for RNA binding, a nonessential region, and a C-terminal region required for both nuclear localization and RNA binding. Subcellular localization of green fluorescent protein-Rev mutants indicated that basic residues within the KRRRK motif in the C-terminal region of Rev are necessary for targeting of Rev to the nucleus. Two separate regions of Rev were necessary for RNA binding: a central region encompassing residues 57 to 130 and a C-terminal region spanning residues 144 to 165. Within these regions were two distinct, short arginine-rich motifs essential for RNA binding, including an RRDRW motif in the central region and the KRRRK motif near the C terminus. These findings suggest that EIAV Rev utilizes a bipartite RNA-binding domain.

Citation Information
Jae-Hyung Lee, Sean C. Murphy, Michael Belshan, Wendy O. Sparks, et al.. "Characterization of Functional Domains of Equine Infectious Anemia Virus Rev Suggests a Bipartite RNA-Binding Domain" (2006)
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/drena-dobbs/6/