title: The interaction of LEDGF/p75 with integrase is lentivirus-specific and promotes DNA binding.
abstract: We have previously shown that the p75 isoform of the transcriptional co-activator lens epithelium-derived growth factor (LEDGF) interacts tightly with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-1 integrase (IN) and is essential for nuclear targeting of this protein in human cells (Cherepanov, P., Maertens, G., Proost, P., Devreese, B., Van Beeumen, J., Engelborghs, Y., De Clercq, E., and Debyser, Z. (2003) J. Biol. Chem. 278, 372-381; Maertens, G., Cherepanov, P., Pluymers, W., Busschots, K., De Clercq, E., Debyser, Z., and Engelborghs, Y. (2003) J. Biol. Chem. 278, 33528-33539). Here the interaction between recombinant LEDGF/p75 and HIV-1 IN was examined in a pull-down binding test. LEDGF/p75 was shown to increase the solubility of HIV-1 IN. Next, fluorescent correlation spectroscopy was used to measure the interaction of LEDGF/p75 or the complex of HIV-1 IN and LEDGF/p75 with a specific double-stranded DNA oligonucleotide. Whereas LEDGF/p75 displayed only a moderate affinity for DNA, it strongly promoted the binding of HIV-1 IN to DNA. This effect was specific for the p75 isoform of LEDGF and was not seen with p52. In the pull-down assay LEDGF/p75 interacted with HIV-1, HIV-2, and feline immunodeficiency virus IN, but not with the IN of human T-cell lymphotropic virus type 2, Moloney murine leukemia virus, or Rous sarcoma virus. These results strongly suggest that the interaction of LEDGF/p75 with IN is specific to lentiviridae. LEDGF/p75 stimulated the binding of HIV-1 and HIV-2 IN, but not Moloney murine leukemia virus or Rous sarcoma virus IN, to an aspecific DNA. These results provide supporting evidence for our hypothesis that LEDGF/p75 plays a role in the tethering of lentiviral IN to the chromosomal DNA.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory for Molecular Virology and Gene Therapy, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven and Interdisciplinary Research Center Katholieke Universiteit Leuven Campus Kortrijk, Kapucijnenvoer 33, B-3000 Leuven, Flanders, Belgium.
authors.forename: Katrien
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Busschots
authors.forename: Jo
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Vercammen
authors.forename: Stéphane
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Emiliani
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Benarous
authors.forename: Yves
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Engelborghs
authors.forename: Frauke
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Christ
authors.forename: Zeger
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Debyser
mesh_terms: D001665:Binding Sites / Q000502:physiology; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D019426:Integrases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D016086:Lentivirus / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D020033:Protein Isoforms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D020033:Protein Isoforms; C119380:lens epithelium-derived growth factor; D019426:Integrases