Abstract
RNA tumour viruses transfer their genetic information from a single-stranded RNA genome found in their virions to a double-stranded DNA covalently integrated into chromosomes of the infected host1,2. A series of nucleic acid intermediates must therefore exist between the single-stranded RNA and the integrated viral DNA genome. The discovery of RNA-directed DNA polymerase (reverse transscriptase) associated with RNA tumour viruses fulfilled a critical requirement for synthesis of viral DNA3,4. The initial product in this information transfer is a RNA–DNA hybrid which is converted into free, unintegrated DNA–DNA5,6. The double-stranded DNA (provirus) is then integrated into chromosomes of the infected host. We report here the isolation of a nucleic acid-binding (unwinding) protein from chick fibroblasts transformed by Rous sarcoma virus (RSV) and its stimulatory effect on DNA synthesis catalysed by reverse transcriptase. A protein capable of unwinding RNA–DNA hybrid and DNA–DNA duplex would not only conserve the input viral RNA strand for further reverse transcription, but also facilitate replication of the double-stranded viral DNA into many copies of provirus before integration.
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HUNG, P., LEE, S. Isolation of nucleic acid-binding protein: stimulation of reverse transcriptase-catalysed DNA synthesis. Nature 259, 499–502 (1976). https://doi.org/10.1038/259499a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/259499a0
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