integrase
Integrase is an enzyme that plays a crucial role in the life cycle of certain viruses, particularly retroviruses like HIV. Its primary function is to facilitate the integration of viral DNA into the host cell's genome, allowing the virus to replicate and produce new viral particles.
Once the viral RNA is reverse-transcribed into DNA, integrase helps insert this viral DNA into the host's DNA. This process is essential for the virus to establish an infection and persist within the host, making integrase a key target for antiviral therapies aimed at treating infections like HIV.