Cryo-EM reveals a novel octameric integrase structure for betaretroviral intasome function

An unexpected octameric integrase architecture for the betaretrovirus mouse mammary tumour virus intasome. Integration of reverse-transcribed viral DNA into the host genome is an essential step in the life cycle of retroviruses, catalysed by the protein integrase. Two studies, from the laboratories of Hideki Aihara and Alan Engelman, have used crystallography and cryo-electron microscopy to determine the structure of Rous sarcoma virus and mouse...