Structure of a two-domain fragment of HIV-1 integrase: implications for domain organization in the intact protein

EMBO J. 2001 Dec 17;20(24):7333-43. doi: 10.1093/emboj/20.24.7333.

Abstract

Retroviral integrase, an essential enzyme for replication of human immunodeficiency virus type-1 (HIV-1) and other retroviruses, contains three structurally distinct domains, an N-terminal domain, the catalytic core and a C-terminal domain. To elucidate their spatial arrangement, we have solved the structure of a fragment of HIV-1 integrase comprising the N-terminal and catalytic core domains. This structure reveals a dimer interface between the N-terminal domains different from that observed for the isolated domain. It also complements the previously determined structure of the C-terminal two domains of HIV-1 integrase; superposition of the conserved catalytic core of the two structures results in a plausible full-length integrase dimer. Furthermore, an integrase tetramer formed by crystal lattice contacts bears structural resemblance to a related bacterial transposase, Tn5, and exhibits positively charged channels suitable for DNA binding.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Catalytic Domain
  • HIV Integrase / chemistry*
  • HIV Integrase / metabolism
  • Models, Molecular
  • Peptide Fragments / chemistry*
  • Protein Conformation

Substances

  • Peptide Fragments
  • HIV Integrase

Associated data

  • PDB/1K6Y