The fidelity of DNA synthesis by human immunodeficiency virus type 1 reverse transcriptase increases in the presence of polyamines.

The high error rates characteristic of human immunodeficiency virus type-1 reverse transcriptase (HIV-1 RT) are a presumptive source of the viral hypervariability that substantially affect viral pathogenesis and resistance to drug therapy. We have analyzed the potential role of polyamines in the fidelity of DNA synthesis by HIV-1 RT. The current study suggest that polyamines tested has the potential to be "antimutator". The polyamines exert the ability to reduce the misincorporation and mispair extension with both RNA/DNA and DNA/DNA template-primers in the following order: spermine > spermidine > putrescine. In view of the significance of mutations of HIV, the possible roles of polyamines in the accuracy of DNA synthesis could be of particular importance; polyamines may affect the mutation rate of the virus.