Expression of alternatively spliced HTLV-1 mRNAs is influenced by mitosis and by a novel cis-acting regulatory sequence

Human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1) expression depends on the concerted action of Tax, which drives transcription of the viral genome, and Rex, which favours expression of incompletely spliced mRNAs and determines a 2-phase temporal pattern of viral expression.In the present study we investigated the Rex-dependence of the complete set of alternatively spliced HTLV-1 mRNAs. Analyses of cells transfected with Rex-wild type and Rex-knock out HTLV-1 molecular clones using splice site-specific qRT-PCR revealed that mRNAs encoding the p30Tof, p13, and p12/8 proteins were Rex-dependent, while the p21rex mRNA was Rex-independent. These findings provide a rational explanation for the intermediate-late temporal pattern of expression of the p30tof, p13, and p12/8 mRNAs described in previous studies. All the Rex-dependent mRNAs contained a 75-nucleotide intronic region that increased the nuclear retention and degradation of a reporter mRNA in the absence of other viral sequences. Selective 2' -hydroxyl acylation analysed by primer extension (SHAPE) analysis revealed that this sequence formed a stable hairpin structure. Cell cycle synchronization experiments indicated that mitosis partially bypasses the requirement for Rex to express Rex-dependent HTLV-1 transcripts. These findings indicate a link between the cycling properties of the host cell and the temporal pattern of viral expression/latency which might influence the ability of the virus to spread and evade the immune system.HTLV-1 is a complex retrovirus that causes two distinct pathologies termed adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma and tropical spastic paraparesis/HTLV-1-associated myelopathy in about 5% of infected individuals. Expression of the virus depends on the concerted action of Tax, which drives transcription of the viral genome, and Rex, which favours expression of incompletely spliced mRNAs and determines a 2-phase temporal pattern of virus expression. The findings reported in this study revealed a novel cis-acting regulatory element and indicated that mitosis partially bypasses the requirement for Rex to express Rex-dependent HTLV-1 transcripts. Our results add a layer of complexity to the mechanisms controlling the expression of alternatively spliced HTLV-1 mRNAs and suggest a link between the cycling properties of the host cell and the temporal pattern of viral expression/latency which might influence the ability of the virus to spread and evade the immune system.