Description

Three major regions of the Rev protein are required for it to help HIV replication: an RNA binding region, an oligomerization region, and a Nuclear Export Signal. The RNA binding region interacts with a part of the viral RNA called the Rev-Responsive Element (RRE). A small (∼30 nucleotides) binding site within this element has a high affinity for Rev, forming a larger complex. The RNA binding region of Rev forms an alpha helix that docks into a complementary groove in the high affinity binding site on RRE . Adding more Rev proteins onto the RRE results in the formation of a series of larger complexes, but where these additional Rev molecules bind is not known yet. The one exception is a weak secondary Rev binding site that has been identified adjacent to the high affinity site.