Regulatory mechanisms by which barrier-to-autointegration factor blocks autointegration and stimulates intermolecular integration of Moloney murine leukemia virus preintegration complexes.
Retroviral integration is mediated by a preintegration complex (PIC) which contains the viral DNA made by reverse transcription together with associated protein factors. Prior to association with target DNA, the PIC must avoid suicidal intramolecular integration of its viral DNA (autointegration). We have demonstrated that barrier-to-autointegration factor (BAF) blocks the autointegration of Moloney murine leukemia virus (MoMLV) PICs in vitro. In this study, we show that BAF is an authentic component of MoMLV. Analysis of the sedimentation properties of initial, salt-stripped, and BAF-reconstituted PICs reveals that the viral DNA within the PIC is reversibly compacted by BAF, consistent with the functional role of BAF in protecting the viral DNA from autointegration. Furthermore, we find that BAF can promote the association of PICs with target DNA. Thus, our data suggest that BAF plays critical roles in promoting preferential intermolecular integration by both blocking autointegration and stimulating the capture of target DNA.
Suzuki
Youichi
Y
Laboratory of Molecular Biology, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, USA.
Craigie
Robert
R
D016475:3T3 Cells; D000818:Animals; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D051379:Mice; D008979:Moloney murine leukemia virus / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D016662:Virus Integration / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*
C501959:BANF1 protein, human; C501960:Banf1 protein, mouse; D004279:DNA, Viral; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D009687:Nuclear Proteins