Affinity purification of a correctly folded fragment of synthetic HIV-1 mRNA using a HIV-1 Rev peptide-ligand.

Formation of a macromolecular complex between the RNA binding protein HIV-1 Rev and HIV-1 mRNA is an essential prerequisite for nuclear export and subsequent expression of HIV-1 mRNA. The arginine rich peptide TRQARRNRRRRWRARQR, corresponding to residues 34-50 of HIV-1 Rev, contains the mRNA binding motif. We prepared a thioether linked Rev34-50-cellulose conjugate to affinity purify a fragment of synthetic mRNA corresponding to the high affinity binding site for Rev. The correctly folded fraction of mRNA (27.5%) was isolated from a crude synthetic mixture.