Specific recognition and accelerated uncoating of retroviral capsids by the TRIM5α restriction factor

The host restriction factor TRIM5alpha mediates species-specific, early blocks to retrovirus infection; susceptibility to these blocks is determined by viral capsid sequences. Here we demonstrate that TRIM5alpha variants from Old World monkeys specifically associate with the HIV type 1 (HIV-1) capsid and that this interaction depends on the TRIM5alpha B30.2 domain. Human and New World monkey TRIM5alpha proteins associated less efficiently with the HIV-1 capsid, accounting for the lack of restriction in cells of these species. After infection, the expression of a restricting TRIM5alpha in the target cells correlated with a decrease in the amount of particulate capsid in the cytosol. In some cases, this loss of…

• IA
  International AIDS Vaccine Initiative
• BS
  Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation
• BS
  Bristol-Myers Squibb
• NI
  National Institutes of Health

  Award: AI063987
• CF
  Center for AIDS Research, University of Washington