RNA Helicase Involvement in HIV-1 Rev Export

The replication of HIV-1 is regulated in a temporal manner by its viral mRNA expression. Control of HIV-RNA expression is complex and involves the interplay of cis-acting viral transactivators and cellular proteins. The nucleocytoplasmic transport of unspliced and singly spliced viral RNA is brought about by the viral protein Rev. Nuclear export of Rev involves the Ran-CRM1 export pathway, but this is not the only requirement for efficient transport, as recently discovered by Kuan-The Jeang and Lawrence Kleiman’s teams who have reported the involvement of a DEAD box RNA helicase, DDX3, in the Rev/CRM1 transport pathway (Yedavalli, et al. Cell 2004; 119:381-92).