HIV-1 Capsid Uncoating Is a Multistep Process That Proceeds through Defect Formation Followed by Disassembly of the Capsid Lattice.

ABSTRACT: The HIV-1 core consists of a cone-shaped capsid shell made of capsid protein (CA) hexamers and pentamers encapsulating the viral genome. HIV-1 capsid disassembly, referred to as uncoating, is important for productive infection; however, the location, timing, and regulation of uncoating remain controversial. Here, we employ amber codon suppression to directly label CA. In addition, a fluid phase fluorescent probe is incorporated into the viral core to detect small defects in the capsid lattice. This double-labeling strategy enables the visualization of uncoating of single cores in vitro and in living cells, which we found to always proceed through at least two distinct steps─the formation of a defect in the capsid lattice that initiates gradual loss of CA below a detectable level. Im

SUBMITTER: Gifford LB 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10832047 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature