Host Factors in Retroviral Integration and the Selection of Integration Target Sites

Microbiol Spectr. 2014 Dec;2(6):10.1128/microbiolspec.MDNA3-0026-2014. doi: 10.1128/microbiolspec.MDNA3-0026-2014.

Abstract

In order to replicate, a retrovirus must integrate a DNA copy of the viral RNA genome into a chromosome of the host cell. The study of retroviral integration has advanced considerably in the past few years. Here we focus on host factor interactions and the linked area of integration targeting. Genome-wide screens for cellular factors affecting HIV replication have identified a series of host cell proteins that may mediate subcellular trafficking for preintegration complexes, nuclear import, and integration target site selection. The cell transcriptional co-activator protein LEDGF/p75 has been identified as a tethering factor important for HIV integration, and recently, BET proteins (Brd2, 4, and 4) have been identified as tethering factors for the gammaretroviruses. A new class of HIV inhibitors has been developed targeting the HIV-1 IN-LEDGF binding site, though surprisingly these inhibitors appear to block assembly late during replication and do not act at the integration step. Going forward, genome-wide studies of HIV-host interactions offer many new starting points to investigate HIV replication and identify potential new inhibitor targets.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Intramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing / metabolism
  • Cell Cycle Proteins
  • Gammaretrovirus / physiology*
  • HIV-1 / physiology*
  • Host-Pathogen Interactions*
  • Nuclear Proteins / metabolism
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / metabolism
  • Transcription Factors / metabolism
  • Virus Integration*

Substances

  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing
  • BRD2 protein, human
  • BRD4 protein, human
  • Cell Cycle Proteins
  • Nuclear Proteins
  • PSIP1 protein, human
  • Transcription Factors
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases