Retrovirus Integration: Some Assembly Required?

Cell Host Microbe. 2016 Dec 14;20(6):702-704. doi: 10.1016/j.chom.2016.11.003.

Abstract

Integration is a key feature of the retroviral life cycle. This process involves packaging of the viral genome into chromatin, which is often assumed to occur as a post-integration step. In this issue of Cell Host & Microbe, Wang and colleagues (Wang et al., 2016) show that chromatinization occurs before integration, raising new questions about the role of histones in retroviral integration and transcription.

MeSH terms

  • Acetylation
  • Animals
  • Capsid Proteins / metabolism
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Chromatin / genetics
  • Chromatin / virology
  • DNA, Viral / genetics
  • DNA, Viral / physiology
  • Embryonal Carcinoma Stem Cells / virology
  • Epigenomics
  • Fibroblasts
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Viral
  • Histones / metabolism
  • Histones / physiology
  • Humans
  • Infections / metabolism
  • Life Cycle Stages
  • Mice
  • Mouse Embryonic Stem Cells / virology
  • Nucleocapsid Proteins / metabolism
  • Retroviridae / genetics*
  • Retroviridae / growth & development*
  • Retroviridae Infections / therapy
  • Retroviridae Infections / virology
  • Transcription, Genetic
  • Virus Assembly*
  • Virus Integration / genetics*
  • Virus Integration / physiology

Substances

  • Capsid Proteins
  • Chromatin
  • DNA, Viral
  • Histones
  • Nucleocapsid Proteins