How HIV-1 Gag assembles in cells: Putting together pieces of the puzzle.

ABSTRACT: During the late stage of the viral life cycle, HIV-1 Gag assembles into a spherical immature capsid, and undergoes budding, release, and maturation. Here we review events involved in immature capsid assembly from the perspective of five different approaches used to study this process: mutational analysis, structural studies, assembly of purified recombinant Gag, assembly of newly translated Gag in a cell-free system, and studies in cells using biochemical and imaging techniques. We summarize key findings obtained using each approach, point out where there is consensus, and highlight unanswered questions. Particular emphasis is placed on reconciling data suggesting that Gag assembles by two different paths, depending on the assembly environment. Specifically, in assembly systems that lack c

SUBMITTER: Lingappa JR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4351045 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature