A substitution in rous sarcoma virus integrase that separates its two biologically relevant enzymatic activities

Molecular determinants for Rous sarcoma virus intasome assemblies involved in retroviral integration

Integration of retroviral DNA into the host genome involves the formation of integrase (IN)-DNA complexes termed intasomes. Further characterization of these complexes is needed to understand their assembly process. Here, we report the single-particle cryo-EM structure of the Rous sarcoma virus (RSV) strand transfer complex (STC) intasome produced with IN and a preassembled viral/target DNA substrate at 3.36 Å resolution. The conserved intasome core region consisting of IN subunits contributing active sites interacting with viral/target DNA has a resolution of 3 Å. Our structure demonstrated the flexibility of the distal IN subunits relative to the IN subunits in the conserved intasome core, similar to results previously shown with the RSV octameric cleaved synaptic complex intasome produced with IN and viral DNA only. An extensive analysis of higher resolution STC structure helped in the identification of nucleoprotein interactions important for intasome assembly. Using structure-function studies, we determined the mechanisms of several IN-DNA interactions critical for assembly of both RSV intasomes. We determined the role of IN residues R244, Y246, and S124 in cleaved synaptic complex and STC intasome assemblies and their catalytic activities, demonstrating differential effects. Taken together, these studies advance our understanding of different RSV intasome structures and molecular determinants involved in their assembly.

Structural basis of second-generation HIV integrase inhibitor action and viral resistance

Although second-generation HIV integrase strand-transfer inhibitors (INSTIs) are prescribed throughout the world, the mechanistic basis for the superiority of these drugs is poorly understood. We used single-particle cryo-electron microscopy to visualize the mode of action of the advanced INSTIs dolutegravir and bictegravir at near-atomic resolution. Glutamine-148→histidine (Q148H) and glycine-140→serine (G140S) amino acid substitutions in integrase that result in clinical INSTI failure perturb optimal magnesium ion coordination in the enzyme active site. The expanded chemical scaffolds of second-generation compounds mediate interactions with the protein backbone that are critical for antagonizing viruses containing the Q148H and G140S mutations. Our results reveal that binding to magnesium ions underpins a fundamental weakness of the INSTI pharmacophore that is exploited by the virus to engender resistance and provide a structural framework for the development of this class of anti-HIV/AIDS therapeutics.

Structural basis of second-generation HIV integrase inhibitor action and viral resistance

Although second-generation HIV integrase strand-transfer inhibitors (INSTIs) are prescribed throughout the world, the mechanistic basis for the superiority of these drugs is poorly understood. We used single-particle cryo-electron microscopy to visualize the mode of action of the advanced INSTIs dolutegravir and bictegravir at near-atomic resolution. Glutamine-148→histidine (Q148H) and glycine-140→serine (G140S) amino acid substitutions in integrase that result in clinical INSTI failure perturb optimal magnesium ion coordination in the enzyme active site. The expanded chemical scaffolds of second-generation compounds mediate interactions with the protein backbone that are critical for antagonizing viruses containing the Q148H and G140S mutations. Our results reveal that binding to magnesium ions underpins a fundamental weakness of the INSTI pharmacophore that is exploited by the virus to engender resistance and provide a structural framework for the development of this class of anti-HIV/AIDS therapeutics.

Structural insights into the retroviral DNA integration apparatus

Retroviral replication depends on successful integration of the viral genetic material into a host cell chromosome. Virally encoded integrase, an enzyme from the DDE(D) nucleotidyltransferase superfamily, is responsible for the key DNA cutting and joining steps associated with this process. Insights into the structural and mechanistic aspects of integration are directly relevant for the development of antiretroviral drugs. Recent breakthroughs have led to biochemical and structural characterization of the principal integration intermediates revealing the tetramer of integrase that catalyzes insertion of both 3' viral DNA ends into a sharply bent target DNA. This review discusses the mechanism of retroviral DNA integration and the mode of action of HIV-1 integrase strand transfer inhibitors in light of the recent visualization of the prototype foamy virus intasome, target DNA capture and strand transfer complexes.

The mechanism of retroviral integration from X-ray structures of its key intermediates

To establish productive infection, a retrovirus must insert a DNA replica of its genome into host cell chromosomal DNA. This process is operated by the intasome, a nucleoprotein complex composed of an integrase tetramer (IN) assembled on the viral DNA ends. The intasome engages chromosomal DNA within a target capture complex to carry out strand transfer, irreversibly joining the viral and cellular DNA molecules. Although several intasome/transpososome structures from the DDE(D) recombinase superfamily have been reported, the mechanics of target DNA capture and strand transfer by these enzymes remained unclear. Here we report crystal structures of the intasome from prototype foamy virus in complex with target DNA, elucidating the pre-integration target DNA capture and post-catalytic strand transfer intermediates of the retroviral integration process. The cleft between IN dimers within the intasome accommodates chromosomal DNA in a severely bent conformation, allowing widely spaced IN active sites to access the scissile phosphodiester bonds. Our results resolve the structural basis for retroviral DNA integration and provide a framework for the design of INs with altered target sequences.

Identifying amino acid residues that contribute to the cellular-DNA binding site on retroviral integrase

Although retroviral integrase specifically trims the ends of viral DNA and inserts these ends into any sequence in cellular DNA, little information is available to explain how integrase distinguishes between its two DNA substrates. We recently described novel integrase mutants that were improved for specific nicking of viral DNA but impaired at joining these ends into nonviral DNA. An acidic or bulky substitution at one particular residue was critical for this activity profile, and the prototypic protein--Rous sarcoma virus integrase with an S124D substitution--was defective at nonspecifically binding DNA. We have now characterized 19 (including 16 new) mutants that contain one or more aspartic acid substitutions at residues that extend over the surface of the protein and might participate with residue 124 in binding cellular DNA. In particular, every mutant with an aspartate substitution at residue 98 or 128, similar to the original S124D protein, showed improved specific nicking of viral DNA but disturbed nonspecific nicking of nonviral DNA. These data describe a probable cellular-DNA binding platform that involves at least 5 amino acids, in the following order of importance: 124>128>(98, 125)>123. These experimental data are vital for new models of integrase and will contribute to identifying targets for the next generation of integrase inhibitors.

Defining the DNA substrate binding sites on HIV-1 integrase

A tetramer model for human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) integrase (IN) with DNA representing long terminal repeat (LTR) termini was previously assembled to predict the IN residues that interact with the LTR termini; these predictions were experimentally verified for nine amino acid residues [Chen, A., Weber, I. T., Harrison, R. W. & Leis, J. (2006). Identification of amino acids in HIV-1 and avian sarcoma virus integrase subsites required for specific recognition of the long terminal repeat ends. J. Biol. Chem., 281, 4173-4182]. In a similar strategy, the unique amino acids found in avian sarcoma virus IN, rather than HIV-1 or Mason-Pfizer monkey virus IN, were substituted into the structurally related positions of HIV-1 IN. Substitutions of six additional residues (Q44, L68, E69, D229, S230, and D253) showed changes in the 3' processing specificity of the enzyme, verifying their predicted interaction with the LTR DNA. The newly identified residues extend interactions along a 16-bp length of the LTR termini and are consistent with known LTR DNA/HIV-1 IN cross-links. The tetramer model for HIV-1 IN with LTR termini was modified to include two IN binding domains for lens-epithelium-derived growth factor/p75. The target DNA was predicted to bind in a surface trench perpendicular to the plane of the LTR DNA binding sites of HIV-1 IN and extending alongside lens-epithelium-derived growth factor. This hypothesis is supported by the in vitro activity phenotype of HIV-1 IN mutant, with a K219S substitution showing loss in strand transfer activity while maintaining 3' processing on an HIV-1 substrate. Mutations at seven other residues reported in the literature have the same phenotype, and all eight residues align along the length of the putative target DNA binding trench.

Four-tiered pi interaction at the dimeric interface of HIV-1 integrase critical for DNA integration and viral infectivity

HIV-1 integrase (IN) is an essential enzyme for viral infection. Here, we report an extensive pi electron orbital interaction between four amino acids, W132, M178, F181 and F185, located at the dimeric interface of IN that is critical for the strand transfer activity alone. Catalysis of nine different mutant IN proteins at these positions were evaluated. Whereas the 3'-processing activity is predominantly strong, the strand transfer activity of each enzyme was completely dependent on an intact pi electron orbital interaction at the dimeric interface. Four representative IN mutants were constructed in the context of the infectious NL4.3 HIV-1 viral clone. Whereas viruses with an intact pi electron orbital interaction at the IN dimeric interface replicated comparable to wild type, viruses containing an abolished pi interaction were non-infectious. Q-PCR analysis of viral DNA forms during viral replication revealed pleiotropic effects of most mutations. We hypothesize that the pi interaction is a critical contact point for the assembly of functional IN multimeric complexes, and that IN multimerization is required for a functional pre-integration complex. The rational design of small molecule inhibitors targeting the disruption of this pi-pi interaction should lead to powerful anti-retroviral drugs.

Retroviral integrases that are improved for processing but impaired for joining

Retroviral integrase specifically trims (or processes) the ends of retroviral DNA, then inserts (or joins) these ends into cellular DNA nonspecifically. We previously showed that Rous sarcoma virus integrase with a serine-to-aspartate substitution at amino acid 124 was markedly improved for processing but dramatically impaired for joining, making it the first mutant to separate the activities of integrase in this way. We now show that placing glutamic acid at this residue has the same effect, whereas asparagine or glutamine, which resemble aspartate and glutamate but without the negatively charged acid group, improved processing and impaired joining to a lesser extent. Placing aspartic acid at either of the adjacent residues 123 or 125 also had an intermediate effect. Thus, the charge, structure, and position of the substitution all contribute to the properties of the S124D protein. Infectivity of virions containing these mutations paralleled the in vitro findings, with substitutions having the greatest effect on joining completely blocking replication. Additional studies indicated the replication-defective viruses were blocked at integration and that the S124D protein is impaired at binding nonviral DNA. These functional, biochemical, and genetic data implicate this particular integrase residue as a key part of the binding site for cellular DNA.

Division of labor within human immunodeficiency virus integrase complexes: determinants of catalysis and target DNA capture

Following the completion of reverse transcription, the human immunodeficiency virus integrase (IN) enzyme covalently links the viral cDNA to a host cell chromosome. An IN multimer carries out this reaction, but the roles of individual monomers within the complex are mostly unknown. Here we analyzed the distribution of functions for target DNA capture and catalysis within the IN multimer. We used forced complementation between pairs of IN deletion derivatives in vitro as a tool for probing cis-trans relationships and analyzed amino acid substitutions affecting either catalysis or target site selection within these complementing complexes. This allowed the demonstration that the IN variant contributing the active catalytic domain was also responsible for recognition of the integration target DNA. We were further able to establish that a single monomer is responsible for both functions by use of assay mixtures containing three different IN genotypes. These data specify the ligands bound at the catalytically relevant IN monomer and allow more-specific modeling of the mechanism of inhibitors that also bind this surface of IN.