An essential interaction between distinct domains of HIV-1 integrase mediates assembly of the active multimer

Integrase mediates integration of the retroviral genome into a host cell chromosome, an essential step in the viral life cycle. In vitro, a stable complex containing only purified human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) integrase and a model viral DNA substrate processively executes the 3'-end processing and DNA joining steps in the integration reaction. We examined the relationship of three essential components of the HIV integrase: the HHCC domain, a putative zinc-finger near the N terminus; the phylogenetically conserved "DD35E" motif, which defines the catalytic domain; and a feature recognized by its sensitivity to the alkylating agent N-ethylmaleimide (NEM). HIV integrase is a multimer, and these three components can be distributed among at least two subunits of the multimeric enzyme. The components function asymmetrically in the active multimer; the DD35E motif and NEM-sensitive site are required in trans to the HHCC region. A divalent cation-dependent interaction involving the NEM-sensitive site of one integrase subunit and the HHCC region of another subunit points to a role for these two features of integrase in multimer assembly. Deletion of the HHCC domain, or modification of integrase with NEM, impaired the assembly of a stable complex between integrase and viral DNA, suggesting that this initial step in the integration pathway requires assembly of the active integrase multimer.