Structural analysis of retrovirus assembly and maturation

DOI: 10.3390/v14010054

Authors: Anna-Sophia Krebs (Wellcome Trust Centre for Human Genetics, University of Oxford) , Luiza M. Mendonca (Wellcome Trust Centre for Human Genetics, University of Oxford) , Peijun Zhang (Wellcome Trust Centre for Human Genetics, University of Oxford; Diamond Light Source; Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences Oxford Institute, University of Oxford)
Co-authored by industrial partner: No

Type: Journal Paper
Journal: Viruses , VOL 14

State: Published (Approved)
Published: December 2021

Abstract: Retroviruses have a very complex and tightly controlled life cycle which has been studied intensely for decades. After a virus enters the cell, it reverse-transcribes its genome, which is then integrated into the host genome, and subsequently all structural and regulatory proteins are transcribed and translated. The proteins, along with the viral genome, assemble into a new virion, which buds off the host cell and matures into a newly infectious virion. If any one of these steps are faulty, the virus cannot produce infectious viral progeny. Recent advances in structural and molecular techniques have made it possible to better understand this class of viruses, including details about how they regulate and coordinate the different steps of the virus life cycle. In this review we summarize the molecular analysis of the assembly and maturation steps of the life cycle by providing an overview on structural and biochemical studies to understand these processes. We also outline the differences between various retrovirus families with regards to these processes.

Journal Keywords: HIV-1; maturation; capsid; cryoEM; cryoET; retroviruses; structure; assembly

Diamond Keywords: Viruses; Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)

Subject Areas: Biology and Bio-materials


Technical Areas:

Added On: 06/01/2022 08:59

Documents:
viruses-14-00054-v2.pdf

Discipline Tags:

Pathogens Infectious Diseases Health & Wellbeing Structural biology Life Sciences & Biotech

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