# Revealing the RNA-RNA interactome of the HIV-1 genome

> **NIH NIH R21** · EMORY UNIVERSITY · 2021 · $195,000

## Abstract

Project Summary/Abstract
Retroviruses, like many RNA viruses, have high mutation rates, allowing rapid genome evolution to select for
beneficial host factor interactions. Recently the importance of non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) for host antiviral
processes have been highlighted; however, many RNA viruses have also evolved to make use of host ncRNAs
for their own benefit. Indeed, several microRNAs (miRNAs) have been identified that inhibit replication of
mammalian RNA viruses while others increase replication. It is important to point out that repressed replication
is likely to be advantageous to the virus in many instances. Furthermore, retroviruses are dependent on a host
tRNA to prime reverse transcription of their genomic RNA (gRNA) into double-stranded proviral DNA. This
fundamental tRNA-gRNA interaction precedes all enzyme-catalyzed processes during retroviral infection of a
host cell. In addition, tRNA-derived fragments (tRFs) that result from endonucleolytic cleavage of tRNAs have
recently been shown to inhibit endogenous retroviral replication by regulating reverse transcription. Due to the
rapid response of HIV-1 to selective pressure, it is likely to have evolved mechanisms of responding to RNA-
mediated host processes; however, comprehensive identification of the HIV-1 gRNA nucleic acid interactome is
lacking. Here, we aim to test the overarching hypothesis that HIV-1 gRNA has evolved critical RNA-RNA
interactions such as alternative conformations, long-range intra-molecular interactions and direct binding of host
ncRNAs to optimize infectivity. The specific aims are to (1) identify HIV-1 gRNA intra-molecular base-pairing and
inter-molecular host RNA interactions and (2) test the biological significance of HIV-1 RNA-RNA interactions.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10228084
- **Project number:** 5R21AI155142-02
- **Recipient organization:** EMORY UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** William Anthony Cantara
- **Activity code:** R21 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $195,000
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2020-08-03 → 2023-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10228084

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10228084, Revealing the RNA-RNA interactome of the HIV-1 genome (5R21AI155142-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10228084. Licensed CC0.

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