Nucleoprotein intermediates in HIV-1 DNA integration visualized by atomic force microscopy.

ABSTRACT: Integration of HIV-1 (human immunodeficiency virus type 1) DNA into the genome of the host cell is an essential step in the viral replication cycle that is mediated by the virally encoded integrase protein. We have used atomic force microscopy to study stable complexes formed between HIV-1 integrase and viral DNA and their interaction with host DNA. A tetramer of integrase stably bridges a pair of viral DNA ends, consistent with previous analysis by gel electrophoresis. The intasome, composed of a tetramer of integrase bridging a pair of viral DNA ends, is highly stable to high ionic strength that would strip more loosely associated integrase from internal regions of the viral DNA. We also observed tetramers of integrase associated with single viral DNA ends; time-course experiments sugges

SUBMITTER: Kotova S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3142783 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature