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The HIV-1 Capsid: From Structural Component to Key Factor for Host Nuclear Invasion
Viviana Scoca1,2, Francesca Di Nunzio1
1Advanced Molecular Virology and Retroviral Dynamics Group, Department of Virology Pasteur Institute, 75015 Paris, France.
Viruses
|February 13, 2021
Summary
The HIV-1 viral capsid (CA) guides viral DNA into the host cell nucleus. Capsid structure remodels during nuclear import, crucial for HIV replication and integration.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Molecular Biology
- Structural Biology
Background:
- The human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) capsid (CA) is essential for packaging the viral genome and associated proteins.
- Reverse transcription complexes (RTCs)/Pre-integration complexes (PICs) are housed within viral cores during nuclear translocation.
- Previous studies faced challenges in detecting CA within RTCs/PICs due to harsh experimental conditions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review recent discoveries on the HIV-1 capsid's role in viral replication.
- To analyze the capsid's function from reverse transcription through DNA integration.
- To highlight the capsid's dynamic structural changes during nuclear import.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing biochemical and cell biology literature.
- Analysis of host-pathogen interactions involving capsid proteins.
- Examination of structural data on capsid complexes.
Main Results:
- Host factors like Nup153 and CPSF6 bind multimeric CA hexamers, primarily in the nucleus.
- Evidence suggests CA enters the nucleus as a multimeric structure.
- HIV-1 CA complexes exhibit distinct morphologies in the cytoplasm versus the nucleus, indicating remodeling during translocation.
Conclusions:
- The HIV-1 capsid is a dynamic structure that undergoes significant remodeling during nuclear import.
- Multimeric CA complexes are critical for escorting viral DNA into the host nucleus.
- The capsid plays a pivotal role throughout the HIV-1 lifecycle, from reverse transcription to integration.
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