Incorporation of Lysyl-tRNA Synthetase into Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1

Abstract

ABSTRACT During human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) assembly, tRNA Lys isoacceptors are selectively incorporated into virions and tRNA 3 Lys is used as the primer for reverse transcription. We show herein that the tRNA Lys -binding protein, lysyl-tRNA synthetase (LysRS), is also selectively packaged into HIV-1. The viral precursor protein Pr55 gag alone will package LysRS into Pr55 gag particles, independently of tRNA Lys . With the additional presence of the viral precursor protein Pr160 gag-pol , tRNA Lys and LysRS are both packaged into the particle. While the predominant cytoplasmic LysRS has an apparent M r of 70,000, viral LysRS associated with tRNA Lys packaging is shorter, with an apparent M r of 63,000. The truncation occurs independently of viral protease and might be required to facilitate interactions involved in the selective packaging and genomic placement of primer tRNA 3 Lys .