Human CD4+ T cells (Molt-4) were transduced with retroviral vectors co
ntaining a hairpin ribozyme which targets the rev/env coding region of
HIV-1 RNA (HXB2: 8629-8644). This target sequence is conserved among
many HIV-1 clones, including the prototype virus HXB2, but the infecti
ous clone SF2 contains a single nucleotide substitution at the cleavag
e site (from NGUC to N*UUC). Cells stably expressing the ribozyme or
its disabled counterpart were challenged with HXB2 or SF2 and the amou
nt of p24 antigen produced was monitored. While this ribozyme was effe
ctive in inhibiting the replication of HXB2 in Molt 4 cells, it showed
only marginal inhibitory effect on SF2 replication. The same level of
virus production was observed with cells transduced by the disabled r
ibozyme, which functions essentially as an antisense molecule. Express
ion of the ribozyme was comparable in HXB2- or SF2-infected cells as d
etected by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. These data
provide in vivo evidence that the antiviral activity of the hairpin r
ibozyme is strictly dependent on the presence of the cleavage site in
the target RNA and supports the conclusion that the ribozyme acts as c
atalytic RNA rather than as antisense RNA in vivo. (C) 1994 Academic P
ress, Inc.