Bromo- and extraterminal domain chromatin regulators serve as cofactors for murine leukemia virus integration

J Virol. 2013 Dec;87(23):12721-36. doi: 10.1128/JVI.01942-13. Epub 2013 Sep 18.

Abstract

Retroviral integrase (IN) proteins catalyze the permanent integration of proviral genomes into host DNA with the help of cellular cofactors. Lens epithelium-derived growth factor (LEDGF) is a cofactor for lentiviruses, including human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1), and targets lentiviral integration toward active transcription units in the host genome. In contrast to lentiviruses, murine leukemia virus (MLV), a gammaretrovirus, tends to integrate near transcription start sites. Here, we show that the bromodomain and extraterminal domain (BET) proteins BRD2, BRD3, and BRD4 interact with gammaretroviral INs and stimulate the catalytic activity of MLV IN in vitro. We mapped the interaction site to a characteristic structural feature within the BET protein extraterminal (ET) domain and to three amino acids in MLV IN. The ET domains of different BET proteins stimulate MLV integration in vitro and, in the case of BRD2, also in vivo. Furthermore, two small-molecule BET inhibitors, JQ1 and I-BET, decrease MLV integration and shift it away from transcription start sites. Our data suggest that BET proteins might act as chromatin-bound acceptors for the MLV preintegration complex. These results could pave a way to redirecting MLV DNA integration as a basis for creating safer retroviral vectors.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Motifs
  • Animals
  • Cell Cycle Proteins
  • Cell Line
  • Chromatin / metabolism*
  • HEK293 Cells
  • Humans
  • Integrases / genetics
  • Integrases / metabolism
  • Leukemia Virus, Murine / enzymology
  • Leukemia Virus, Murine / genetics
  • Leukemia Virus, Murine / physiology*
  • Mice
  • Nuclear Proteins / chemistry
  • Nuclear Proteins / genetics
  • Nuclear Proteins / metabolism*
  • Protein Binding
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / chemistry
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / genetics
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / metabolism*
  • Protein Structure, Tertiary
  • RNA-Binding Proteins / chemistry
  • RNA-Binding Proteins / genetics
  • RNA-Binding Proteins / metabolism*
  • Retroviridae Infections / genetics
  • Retroviridae Infections / metabolism*
  • Retroviridae Infections / virology
  • Transcription Factors / chemistry
  • Transcription Factors / genetics
  • Transcription Factors / metabolism*
  • Viral Proteins / genetics
  • Viral Proteins / metabolism
  • Virus Integration*

Substances

  • BRD2 protein, human
  • BRD3 protein, human
  • BRD4 protein, human
  • Cell Cycle Proteins
  • Chromatin
  • Nuclear Proteins
  • RNA-Binding Proteins
  • Transcription Factors
  • Viral Proteins
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases
  • Integrases