Integraseentsyymiä

Integraseentsyymiä, known in English as integrase enzyme, is a protein crucial for the life cycle of retroviruses, including HIV. Its primary function is to catalyze the insertion of the viral DNA, after it has been reverse transcribed from viral RNA, into the host cell's genome. This integration process is a critical step in retroviral replication, as it allows the viral genetic material to become a permanent part of the host cell's DNA.

The integrase enzyme possesses three distinct domains: the N-terminal domain, the catalytic core domain, and the C-terminal DNA-binding domain. The catalytic core domain contains the active site responsible for the enzymatic activity, which involves cleaving the host DNA and joining it with the viral DNA. The N-terminal domain is involved in the multimerization of integrase and plays a role in the early stages of integration. The C-terminal domain binds to the ends of the viral DNA and helps to position it for insertion.

Integrase inhibitors are a class of antiretroviral drugs that target this enzyme. By blocking the activity of integrase, these drugs prevent the integration of viral DNA into the host genome, thereby halting viral replication. This makes integrase inhibitors an important component of combination antiretroviral therapy for HIV infection. The development of integrase inhibitors has significantly improved treatment outcomes for individuals living with HIV.