Reverse transcription progression and genome length regulate HIV-1 core elasticity and disassembly

The structural and mechanical properties of the HIV-1 core are critical for successful infection, balancing stability for early replication and controlled disassembly for genome release. Recent studies have highlighted the role of core elasticity in nuclear entry, yet the molecular determinants regulating this property remain poorly understood. Here, atomic force microscopy (AFM) was used to investigate the relationship between reverse transcription progression, genome length, core elasticity, and disassembly. The results demonstrate that reverse transcription induces a gradual loss of elasticity, rendering the core increasingly brittle as DNA synthesis progresses. Cores containing shorter genomes remained highly elastic, whereas those with longer genomes exhibited increased brittleness, structural damage, and a higher degree of disassembly, after 4 hours of reverse transcription. Additionally, cores from an RNase H-deficient HIV-1 mutant retained high elasticity. These findings provide insight into the interplay between genome synthesis, core integrity, and nuclear entry, supporting a model in which reverse transcription-generated mechanical stress facilitates uncoating. Furthermore, early-stage reverse transcription preserved core elasticity, suggesting a temporal window for successful nuclear import before structural destabilization compromises infectivity.