Methods of preparation and analysis of intracellular reverse transcription complexes

Shortly after penetration into the cell, HIV-1 must reverse transcribe its genome into a double-stranded DNA molecule and must gain access to the nucleus of nondividing cells for productive infection. There is limited knowledge of these early events in HIV-1 life cycle. We have developed methods, which allow the study of postpenetration events and in particular allow the isolation and purification of intracellular complexes mediating reverse transcription. Such complexes can be examined for their structure, function, protein composition and ability to access the nucleus.