Rev is necessary for translation but not cytoplasmic accumulation of HIV-1 vif, vpr, and env/vpu 2 RNAs

The effect of Rev on cytoplasmic accumulation of the singly spliced human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) vif, vpr, and env/vpu RNAs was examined by using a quantitative RNA polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis following transfection of complete proviral molecular clones into lymphoid cells. Previously published studies using subgenomic env constructs in nonlymphoid cell types concluded that Rev was necessary for cytoplasmic accumulation of high levels of unspliced env RNA and that, by analogy, Rev must be necessary for the cytoplasmic accumulation of all HIV-1 RNAs that contain the Rev-responsive element (RRE). We confirm those results in COS cells. Unexpectedly, in lymphoid cells, we find that although Rev acts somewhat to increase the cytoplasmic level of full-length HIV-1 RNA, Rev has little or no effect on cytoplasmic accumulation of singly spliced HIV-1 RNAs. However, Env protein expression was greatly reduced in the absence of Rev. Analysis of the cytoplasmic RNA revealed that in the absence of Rev or the RRE, the cytoplasmic vif, vpr, and env/vpu 2 RNAs were not associated with polysomes but with a complex of 40S-80S in size. Consequently, efficient expression of the Vif, Vpr, Vpu, and Env proteins from these RNAs is dependent on Rev. These results exclude a mechanism whereby the sole function of Rev is simply to export RNAs from nucleus to cytoplasm. We discuss other models to take into account the dependence on Rev for efficient translation of cytoplasmic HIV-1 RNAs.