Retroviral Integrase

IntroductionIntroduction

Integrase is an essential retroviral enzyme that binds to viral DNA and inserts it into a host cell chromosome. It is produced by a class of retrovirus (like HIV) and is used by the virus to incorporate its genetic material into the host cell DNA. The host cellular machinery then produces mRNA and then protein from the incorporated genetic material, thus replicating the virus. Although several integrase inhibiting drugs have been investigated, the mechanism of action was not clear. On February 1st, 2010, a crystal structure of the PFV Intasome was published, paving the way for better retroviral treatments.

ReferencesReferences

1.Stephen Hare, Saumya Shree Gupta1, Eugene Valkov1, Alan Engelman & Peter Cherepanov. Retroviral intasome assembly and inhibition of DNA strand transfer. Nature. 2010/01/31/online Template:STRUCTURE 3l2q