Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 2 Multiply Spliced Transcripts

Abstract

Viral transcripts, particularly those of the regulatory genes (e.g., rev) in lymphocytic cells chronically infected with human immunodeficiency virus type 2, consist of two types, differing in the structure of the leader sequence derived from the 5′ long terminal repeat (LTR). Some transcripts undergo a specific splicing event within the 5′ LTR, removing an intron consisting of a part of the R region whereas others do not. Because this spliced-out R region is a part of the trans-activation response element (TAR), it could influence trans-activator (Tat)-mediated trans-activation of viral gene expression. Moreover, this part of the R region is predicted to contain a stable secondary structure that could affect the efficiency of translation of the transcripts without this splicing. Thus, the 5′ LTR splicing could have important consequences for virus replication, latency, and pathogenicity.