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Retroviral recombination: what drives the switch?

Nature Reviews Molecular Cell Biology volume 2, pages 151–155 (2001)Cite this article

Abstract

The high rate of recombination in retroviruses is due to the frequent template switching that occurs during reverse transcription. Although the mechanism that leads to this switch is still a matter of debate, there is increasing evidence that specific RNA structures are involved. And the implications might go beyond retroviral genetic variability.

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Figure 1: Reverse transcription in the life cycle of retroviruses.
Figure 2: The catalytic subunit of HIV-1 reverse transcriptase.
Figure 3: A pre-recombination intermediate?
Figure 4: Reverse transcriptases from retroelements.

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Acknowledgements

We acknowledge the French Agency for Research on AIDS (ANRS) for financial support. We are also indebted to M. Ricchetti for constant and helpful discussions, and to T. Heidmann for his help in elaborating concepts on the biology of retroelements.

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  1. the Department of Molecular Biology, Institut Pasteur, Paris, cedex 15, 75724, France

    Matteo Negroni & Henri Buc

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Negroni, M., Buc, H. Retroviral recombination: what drives the switch?. Nat Rev Mol Cell Biol 2, 151–155 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1038/35052098

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