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Updated: May 15, 2026
10:49
In vitro Uncoating of HIV-1 Cores
Published on: November 8, 2011
Uncoating of non-enveloped viruses
Maarit Suomalainen1, Urs F Greber
1Institute of Molecular Life Sciences, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, CH-8057 Zurich, Switzerland.
Current Opinion in Virology
|January 22, 2013
Summary
Viral uncoating, the release of genetic material from virus capsids, involves diverse cellular cues. Understanding these triggers, such as pH or cellular motors, is key for developing novel antiviral strategies.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Molecular Biology
- Structural Biology
Background:
- Non-enveloped viruses protect their genomes within protein capsids.
- Genome release (uncoating) is a critical step in viral infection, requiring the breakdown of capsid interactions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the diverse cellular mechanisms and cues that trigger viral genome uncoating.
- To highlight the variety of factors involved in initiating virus entry and genome release.
Main Methods:
- Review and analysis of known viral uncoating mechanisms for various non-enveloped viruses.
- Categorization of uncoating triggers based on their nature (e.g., receptor-mediated, pH-dependent, motor-driven).
Main Results:
- Viral uncoating is initiated by diverse cellular factors, including receptor binding, proteases, endosomal pH, and cellular motors.
- Specific examples include rhinovirus/poliovirus (receptor/protease), rhinovirus/aphtovirus (low pH), polyomavirus (disulfide reshuffling), and adenoviruses (cellular motors).
Conclusions:
- The mechanisms of viral uncoating are highly diverse across different virus families.
- Understanding these varied uncoating pathways provides new avenues for designing antiviral therapies targeting virus entry.
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