High-resolution view of HIV-1 reverse transcriptase initiation complexes and inhibition by NNRTI drugs

Abstract

Initiation of HIV-1 reverse transcription occurs at the host tRNALys 3, which forms a complex with the 5’ end of the HIV-1 viral RNA and reverse transcriptase (RT). Here, the authors present the 2.8 Å cryo-EM structure of a minimal HIV-1 RT–vRNA–tRNALys 3 initiation complex (miniRTIC), and miniRTIC structures with the bound non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors nevirapine and efavirenz at 3.1 and 2.9 Å resolution, respectively.