HIV-1 Integrase Binds the Viral RNA Genome and Is Essential during Virion Morphogenesis.

ABSTRACT: While an essential role of HIV-1 integrase (IN) for integration of viral cDNA into human chromosome is established, studies with IN mutants and allosteric IN inhibitors (ALLINIs) have suggested that IN can also influence viral particle maturation. However, it has remained enigmatic as to how IN contributes to virion morphogenesis. Here, we demonstrate that IN directly binds the viral RNA genome in virions. These interactions have specificity, as IN exhibits distinct preference for select viral RNA structural elements. We show that IN substitutions that selectively impair its binding to viral RNA result in eccentric, non-infectious virions without affecting nucleocapsid-RNA interactions. Likewise, ALLINIs impair IN binding to viral RNA in virions of wild-type, but not escape mutant, virus.

SUBMITTER: Kessl JJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5003418 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature