Figure 1

Schematic diagram outlining Rev mediated RNA export from nucleus to cytoplasm. a, Viral RNA develops secondary structure before binding critical protein components of the export pathway. b, Rev protein binds the RRE, forming a complex of REV, viral RNA, CRM-1 and DDX3, which begins to unwind secondary structure. c, The export complex enters the nucleopore, where both CRM-1 and DDX3 interact with nucleoporins. d, Even after CRM-1 and Rev are released from the export complex, DDX3 may still pull RNA through the complex by virtue of its processivity.