HIV-1 Assembly, Budding, and Maturation

A defining property of retroviruses is their ability to assemble into particles that can leave producer cells and spread infection to susceptible cells and hosts. Virion morphogenesis can be divided into three stages: assembly, wherein the virion is created and essential components are packaged; budding, wherein the virion crosses the plasma membrane and obtains its lipid envelope; and maturation, wherein the virion changes structure and becomes infectious. All of these stages are coordinated by the Gag polyprotein and its proteolytic maturation products, which function as the major structural proteins of the virus. Here, we review our current understanding of the mechanisms of HIV-1 assembly, budding, and…

• DF
  Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft

  Awards: SPP1175, SFB638, SFB544
• NI
  National Institutes of Health

  Awards: GM082545, P50 GM082545