Introduction

RETROVIRUSES

INTRODUCTION

The Retroviruses are a unique RNA virus family, known most famously for their penchant for violating the Central Dogma of Biology by not only synthesizing DNA from their RNA genomes, but also by replicating their RNA genomes. The unique lifestyle of the retrovirus involves two life forms, a DNA provirus and an RNA-containing infectious virion. The nucleocapsid has a helical morphology; however, it isn’t strictly helical since one end of the helix is wider than the other. These particles are spherical since they’re enveloped and they bud from the host cell surface. Many heavily glycosylated envelope proteins can be found on the virus surface, and these proteins play an important role in recognizing and binding cellular receptors for fusion and entry Retroviruses are typically 100nm in diameter and contain two single strands of RNA, which permits recombination between the two strands. The typical genome is 10 kilobases and has three major genes, namely pol, gag and env. Gag encodes structural proteins (matrix proteins, capsid proteins and nucleocapsid proteins). Pol encodes several enzymes: reverse transcriptase for turning the message strand into a DNA copy, integrase to insert the DNA in the host genome, and protease to cleave the polyproteins made off of the gag, pol and env genes. Lastly env encodes a surface protein and a transmembrane protein (gp 120 and gp 41 respectively in HIV).

There are three Retrovirus genera: the genus formerly known as oncoviruses that has now been split into 5 genera; lentiviruses (including HIV-1 and HIV-2; and spumaviruses including the Human Foamy Virus.

click here to view previous student Retrovirus webpages

(these websites include viral profiles of HIV and HTLV)