Rev
Tat
Vif
Integrase
Proteomics
Env
Nef

Integrase

Early in the HIV lifecycle, reverse transcription of viral RNA generates a double-stranded DNA copy of the RNA genome with long terminal repeats at the ends. HIV-1 Integrase (IN) is the viral enzyme that forms a large pre-integration complex (PIC) between this newly synthesized viral genome and cellular proteins in order to insert the viral DNA into the host genome.

The goal of the Integrase project, headed by Dr. Robert M. Stroud, is to understand the mechanism of HIV-1 integration mediated by integrase, including its interactions with protein partners in the context of PICs that provide targets for anti-IN drugs. The IN project is using x-ray diffraction and cryo-EM and tomography to determine structures of integrase complexed with nucleic acid and protein partners.