title: Structure and stoichiometry of template-directed recombinant HIV-1 Gag particles.
abstract: Size polydispersity of immature human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) particles represents a challenge for traditional methods of biological ultrastructural analysis. An in vitro model for immature HIV-1 particles constructed from recombinant Gag proteins lacking residues 16-99 and the p6 domain assembled around spherical nanoparticles functionalized with DNA. This template-directed assembly approach led to a significant reduction in size polydispersity and revealed previously unknown structural features of immature-like HIV-1 particles. Electron microscopy and image reconstruction of these particles suggest that the Gag shell formed from different protein regions that are connected by a "scar"-an extended defect connecting the edges of two continuous, regularly packed protein layers. Thus, instead of a holey protein array, the experimental model presented here appears to consist of a continuous array of ∼5000 proteins enveloping the core, in which regular regions are separated by extended areas of disorder.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN 47405, USA.
authors.forename: Nancy L
authors.initials: NL
authors.lastname: Goicochea
authors.forename: Siddhartha A K
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Datta
authors.forename: Murali
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ayaluru
authors.forename: Cheng
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kao
authors.forename: Alan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rein
authors.forename: Bogdan
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Dragnea
mesh_terms: D015497:HIV-1 / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D006801:Humans; D057446:Hydrodynamics; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D053768:Metal Nanoparticles / Q000648:ultrastructure; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000737:chemistry*; D013056:Spectrophotometry, Ultraviolet; D013499:Surface Properties; D013698:Templates, Genetic; D014771:Virion / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D054301:gag Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D054301:gag Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus