An atomic model of HIV-1 capsid-SP1 reveals structures regulating assembly and maturation

Abstract

Maturation and inhibition of HIV-1 HIV-1 undergoes a two-step assembly process controlled largely by a single region of its Gag protein. Schur et al. determined a complete atomic model for this region within an assembled Gag protein lattice using cryo-electron tomography together with subtomogram averaging. Amino acids from different parts of multiple Gag molecules come together to form an intricate network of interactions that drive HIV-1 assembly. The final step of maturation into the infectious HIV-1 virus is controlled by structural changes in Gag that alter the accessibility of the final cleavage site to the viral protease. Science , this issue p. 506