Replication, Population Dynamics, Genetics, & Evolution of Retroviruses

Andrew Natonson
Predoctoral Student
BA, Biochemistry, Vassar

Thesis Topic
The role that transcriptional activity of cellular sequences plays in influencing the integration site.

Current Research
Retrovirus integration is an essential step in the virus life cycle but the features that control the site within the cellular genome that is targeted by the virus remain poorly understood. My project is examining the role that transcriptional activity of cellular sequences plays in influencing the integration site. Some evidence suggests that some viruses prefer highly transcribed genes while other evidence suggesting that transcription decreases integration. To settle this issue, I am comparing the ability of HIV and an avian retrovirus to integrate into the highly inducible metallothionein gene under conditions of high and low gene expression.