ABSTRACT
The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) Rev protein is essential for viral replication and is, therefore, an attractive target for therapeutic intervention. Rev binds to a specific RNA site, the Rev response element (RRE), located within the envregion of the viral mRNAs and facilitates the nuclear to cytoplasmic transport of unspliced RNAs that encode the viral structural proteins. The RRE is a large structured RNA element composed of several RNA stem-loops. Many of the selected binding species resemble the wild-type RRE, and reiterate the importance of the sequences and structures that facilitate the widening of the major groove. Antisense oligonucleotides, or catalytic RNAs directed against Rev or the RRE have shown promise as therapeutic reagents. RNAs and peptides specifically targeted toward the Rev protein or RRE can effectively block the Rev-RRE interaction, although it is still unclear whether these types of macromolecules will themselves be therapeutically useful.
