The pre-integration complex (PIC) is a
nucleoprotein complex of viral
genetic material and associated viral and host proteins which is capable of inserting a viral genome into a host genome. The PIC forms after uncoating of a viral particle after entry into the host cell. In the case of the
human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), the PIC forms after the Reverse Transcription Complex (RTC) has reverse transcribed the viral RNA into DNA.
The PIC consists of viral proteins (including
Vpr,
matrix
Matrix most commonly refers to:
* ''The Matrix'' (franchise), an American media franchise
** '' The Matrix'', a 1999 science-fiction action film
** "The Matrix", a fictional setting, a virtual reality environment, within ''The Matrix'' (franchi ...
and
integrase), host proteins (including
Barrier to autointegration factor 1
Barrier-to-autointegration factor is a protein that in humans is encoded by the ''BANF1'' gene. It is a member of the barrier-to-autointegration factor family of proteins.
Function
The protein encoded by this gene was identified by its abilit ...
) and the viral DNA.
The PIC enters the cellular nucleus through the
nuclear pore complex
A nuclear pore is a part of a large complex of proteins, known as a nuclear pore complex that spans the nuclear envelope, which is the double membrane surrounding the eukaryotic cell nucleus. There are approximately 1,000 nuclear pore complex ...
without disrupting the
nuclear envelope, thus allowing HIV and related
retroviruses
A retrovirus is a type of virus that inserts a DNA copy of its RNA genome into the DNA of a host cell that it invades, thus changing the genome of that cell. Once inside the host cell's cytoplasm, the virus uses its own reverse transcriptas ...
to replicate in non-dividing cells. Following nuclear entry, the PIC's DNA payload may be integrated into the host
DNA as a "
provirus".
See also
*
HIV
*
Barrier to autointegration factor 1
Barrier-to-autointegration factor is a protein that in humans is encoded by the ''BANF1'' gene. It is a member of the barrier-to-autointegration factor family of proteins.
Function
The protein encoded by this gene was identified by its abilit ...
References
External links
*http://www.mcld.co.uk/hiv/?q=preintegration%20complex
*
Virology
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