Weak palindromic consensus sequences are a common feature found at the integration target sites of many retroviruses

J Virol. 2005 Apr;79(8):5211-4. doi: 10.1128/JVI.79.8.5211-5214.2005.

Abstract

Integration into the host genome is one of the hallmarks of the retroviral life cycle and is catalyzed by virus-encoded integrases. While integrase has strict sequence requirements for the viral DNA ends, target site sequences have been shown to be very diverse. We carefully examined a large number of integration target site sequences from several retroviruses, including human immunodeficiency virus type 1, simian immunodeficiency virus, murine leukemia virus, and avian sarcoma-leukosis virus, and found that a statistical palindromic consensus, centered on the virus-specific duplicated target site sequence, was a common feature at integration target sites for these retroviruses.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Base Sequence
  • Consensus Sequence
  • DNA, Viral / chemistry
  • DNA, Viral / genetics*
  • Genome, Viral*
  • Nucleic Acid Conformation
  • Retroviridae / genetics*
  • Virus Integration / genetics*

Substances

  • DNA, Viral