Identification of SFPQ as novel interacting partner of HIV-1 Integrase and its functional characterization

Background HIV-1 requires the support of its appropriate host for the survival and propagation like any other parasite. These host cell factors have been reported to be involved in different stages of viral life cycle. The nuclear import and infection maintenance of HIV-1 Integrase (IN) in human cells is dependent upon the integration efficiency of the proviral DNA and stability of viral RNA. In our study we identified a new host cell interacting factor for HIV-1 IN, SFPQ-a RNA splicing protein, by cross-linking, pull down and mass spectrometry.