Control of RNA Initiation and Elongation at the HIV Promoter
Dirk Daelemans 1, Erik de Clercq 1, Anne-Mieke Vandamme 1
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*Correspondence: Anne-Mieke Vandamme, Email not available
Abstract
Regulation of HIV-1 transcription involves a complex interplay between cis-acting DNA and RNA elements present within the chromatin-associated, proviral long terminal repeats (LTRs), cellular transcription factors (DNA targeted), and the viral trans-regulatory protein Tat (RNA targeted). Recently, it has been observed that Tat associates with a cellular kinase that phosphorylates the carboxyl-terminal domain of RNA polymerase II and hence stimulates transcriptional elongation. Here we review the control of HIV-1 transcription from the LTR promoter.We describe the HIV-1 promoter elements, how the cellular RNA polymerase II transcription complex initiates, and how Tat stimulates this transcription. Furthermore, in brief, we give a picture of the activation of the chromatin-associated integrated provirus and the importance of post-translational modification of Tat.
