title: In vitro assays for activities of retroviral integrase.
abstract: Integration of retroviral DNA, an essential step during the retroviral life cycle, is mediated by the viral protein integrase. Simple in vitro assays for measuring integrase activities are described, including catalysis (3'-end processing, 3'-end joining, disintegration), juxtaposition of viral DNA ends, DNA binding, and target site selection. The described assays will be useful in elucidating the molecular mechanism of retroviral integration and screening for integrase inhibitors as potential anti-retroviral drugs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology, UCLA School of Medicine 90095, USA.
authors.forename: S A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Chow
mesh_terms: D002384:Catalysis; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000378:metabolism; D019427:HIV Integrase / Q000378:metabolism*; D019428:HIV Integrase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011499:Protein Processing, Post-Translational; D013379:Substrate Specificity; D016662:Virus Integration
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral; D019428:HIV Integrase Inhibitors; D019427:HIV Integrase