LEDGF/p75 functions downstream from preintegration complex formation to effect gene-specific HIV-1 integration

• Published in: Genes & development 2007-07, Vol.21 (14), p.1767-1778
• Main Authors: Shun, Ming-Chieh, Raghavendra, Nidhanapati K, Vandegraaff, Nick, Daigle, Janet E, Hughes, Siobhan, Kellam, Paul, Cherepanov, Peter, Engelman, Alan
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing - deficiency; Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing - genetics; Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing - physiology; Animals; Base Sequence; Binding Sites - genetics; Cell Line; Consensus Sequence; CpG Islands; DNA - genetics; DNA - metabolism; Gene Deletion; HIV-1 - genetics; HIV-1 - pathogenicity; HIV-1 - physiology; Human immunodeficiency virus 1; Humans; In Vitro Techniques; Integrases - metabolism; Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins - deficiency; Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins - genetics; Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins - physiology; Lentivirus; Leukemia Virus, Murine - pathogenicity; Mice; Promoter Regions, Genetic; Research Paper; Retroviridae; Transcription Factors - deficiency; Transcription Factors - genetics; Transcription Factors - physiology; Virus Integration - genetics; Virus Integration - physiology
• ISSN: 0890-9369; 1549-5477
• DOI: 10.1101/gad.1565107

LEDGF/p75 directly interacts with lentiviral integrase proteins and can modulate their enzymatic activities and chromosomal association. A novel genetic knockout model was established that allowed us for the first time to analyze HIV-1 integration in the absence of LEDGF/p75 protein. Supporting a crucial role for the cofactor in viral replication, HIV-1 vector integration and reporter gene expression were significantly reduced in LEDGF-null cells. Yet, integrase processed the viral cDNA termini normally and maintained its local target DNA sequence preference during integration. Preintegration complexes extracted from knockout cells moreover supported normal levels of DNA strand transfer activity in vitro. In contrast, HIV-1 lost its strong bias toward integrating into transcription units, displaying instead increased affinity for promoter regions and CpG islands. Our results reveal LEDGF/p75 as a critical targeting factor, commandeering lentiviruses from promoter- and/or CpG island-proximal pathways that are favored by other members of Retroviridae. Akin to yeast retrotransposons, disrupting the lentiviral targeting mechanism significantly perturbs overall integration.