Selection, recombination, and G----A hypermutation of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 genomes

J Virol. 1991 Apr;65(4):1779-88. doi: 10.1128/JVI.65.4.1779-1788.1991.

Abstract

Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) isolates are genetically so heterogeneous that they must be described in terms of populations of related but distinct genomes called quasispecies. A recent study of the influence of ex vivo culturing on HIV-1 quasispecies demonstrated that usually low-abundance genomes outgrew the more prominent forms. Here it is shown that multiple passages of an HIV-1 isolate on peripheral blood mononuclear cells resulted in the outgrowth of very minor forms. A single passage of equal proportions of supernatants to either of the established lymphocyte and monocyte cell lines Molt-3 and U937-2, respectively, resulted in the isolation of different sets of minor forms. Recombination between component sequences was observed. Extensive and monotonous base substitutions of G----A (G----A hypermutation) were evident in many sequences. A strong preference for the transition within the GpA dinucleotide was observed. Dislocation mutagenesis, in this case, a -1 slippage or dislocation of the primer with respect to the template, during DNA synthesis by the HIV-1 reverse transcriptase would explain this bias. When the consequences of polymerase errors, recombination, hypermutation, and instability are added to the genetic description of HIV-1, the real complexity of this virus starts to become apparent.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Base Sequence
  • Cell Line
  • DNA, Viral / chemistry
  • Gene Products, env / genetics*
  • HIV-1 / genetics*
  • HIV-1 / growth & development
  • Humans
  • Leukocytes, Mononuclear / microbiology
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Mutation*
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Recombination, Genetic*
  • Virus Replication

Substances

  • DNA, Viral
  • Gene Products, env

Associated data

  • GENBANK/M64455
  • GENBANK/M64456
  • GENBANK/M64457
  • GENBANK/M64459
  • GENBANK/M64460
  • GENBANK/M64462
  • GENBANK/M64463
  • GENBANK/M64465
  • GENBANK/M64466
  • GENBANK/M64468