HIV-1 matrix protein: a mysterious regulator of the viral life cycle.
Significant progress has been achieved in the last few years concerning the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1) life cycle, mostly in the fields of cellular receptors for the virus, virus assembly and budding of virus particles from the cell surface. Meanwhile, some aspects, such as postentry events, virus maturation and the regulatory role of individual viral proteins remain poorly defined. This review summarizes some recent findings concerning the role of Gag Pr55 and its proteolytic processing in the HIV-1 life cycle with particular emphasis on the functions of matrix protein p17 (MA), the protein which plays a key role in regulation of the early and late steps of viral morphogenesis. Based on our recent observations, the possibility is discussed that two subsets of MA exist, one cleaved from the Gag precursor in the host cell (cMA), and the other cleaved in the virions (vMA). It is suggested that two MA fractions possess diverse functions and are involved in different stages of virus morphogenesis as key regulators of the viral life cycle.
Bukrinskaya
Alissa
A
D.I.Ivanovsky Institute of Virology, Russian Academy of Medical Sciences, Moscow 123098, RF, Russia. Bukrinskaya@yandex.ru
D015683:Gene Products, gag / Q000502:physiology*; D015488:HIV Antigens / Q000502:physiology*; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism; D009024:Morphogenesis; D011498:Protein Precursors / Q000502:physiology; D011499:Protein Processing, Post-Translational; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000502:physiology*; D054301:gag Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus
D015683:Gene Products, gag; D015488:HIV Antigens; D011498:Protein Precursors; D014764:Viral Proteins; D054301:gag Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus; C054858:p17 protein, Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1; C059767:p55 gag precursor protein, Human immunodeficiency virus 1