HIV-Integrase

HIV Integrase is an enzyme produced by a HIV that enables its genetic material to be integrated into the DNA of the infected cell. IN is a key component in the retroviral pre-integration complex (PIC). All retroviral integrase proteins contain three canonical domains, connected by flexible linkers: an N-terminal HH-CC zinc-binding domain, a catalytic core domain and a C-terminal DNA-binding domain. Integration occurs following production of the double-stranded viral DNA by the viral RNA/DNA-dependent DNA polymerase reverse transcriptase. The main function of IN is to insert the viral DNA into the host chromosomal DNA, a step that is essential for HIV replication. Integration is a point of no return for the cell, which becomes a permanent carrier of the viral genome (provirus). Integration is in part responsible for the persistence of retroviral infections.