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Updated: May 28, 2026

Amplification, Next-generation Sequencing, and Genomic DNA Mapping of Retroviral Integration Sites
Published on: March 22, 2016
HIV-1 Integrase-DNA Recognition Mechanisms
Jacques J Kessl1, Christopher J McKee, Jocelyn O Eidahl
1Center for Retrovirus Research and Comprehensive Cancer Center, College of Pharmacy, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA; E-Mails: kessl.1@osu.edu (J.J.K.); mckee.473@osu.edu (C.J.M.); eidahl.1@osu.edu (J.O.E.), shkriabai.1@osu.edu (N.S.); katz.147@osu.edu (A.K.).
Abstract:
Integration of a reverse transcribed DNA copy of the HIV viral genome into the host chromosome is essential for virus replication. This process is catalyzed by the virally encoded protein integrase. The catalytic activities, which involve DNA cutting and joining steps, have been recapitulated in vitro using recombinant integrase and synthetic DNA substrates. Biochemical and biophysical studies of these model reactions have been pivotal in advancing our understanding of mechanistic details for how IN interacts with viral and target DNAs, and are the focus of the present review.
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