The requirement of the DEAD-box protein DDX24 for the packaging of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 RNA.

RNA helicases play important roles in RNA metabolism. Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) does not carry its own RNA helicase, the virus thus needs to exploit cellular RNA helicases to promote the replication of its RNA at various steps such as transcription, folding and transport. In this study, we report that knockdown of a DEAD-box protein named DDX24 inhibits the packaging of HIV-1 RNA and thus diminishes viral infectivity.

The packaging of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 RNA is restricted by overexpression of an RNA helicase DHX30.

RNA helicases are a large family of proteins that are able to unwind RNA duplex and remodel the structure of RNA-protein (RNP) complexes using energy derived from hydrolysis of nucleotide triphosphates (NTPs). Every step of cellular RNA metabolism involves the activity of RNA helicases. Not surprisingly, more and more RNA helicases are reported to participate in the replication of viruses including the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1).