This subproject is one of many research subprojects utilizing the resources provided by a Center grant funded by NIH/NCRR. The subproject and investigator (PI) may have received primary funding from another NIH source, and thus could be represented in other CRISP entries. The institution listed is for the Center, which is not necessarily the institution for the investigator. HIV-1 assembly is a required stage of the viral life cycle; viral particles that are deficient in assembly are unable to infect other cells. Gag is comprised of three major domains: MA, CA, and NC along with three smaller peptides. As the virus buds, proteolysis of Gag occurs producing the discrete MA, CA, and NC proteins. Following processing of Gag, the virion undergoes a significant structural rearrangement, known as maturation, which involves polymerization of NC along the viral genome, assembly of CA into a conical structure surrounding the NC/RNA copolymer, and the membrane association of MA. Proper assembly of the CA domain into its conical structure is paramount for the HIV-1 life cycle. Presently, there are no high resolution data sets on HIV CA showing the biologically important structure, a hexamer. The crystal I am sending has the capability of showing the first HIV CA in a hexamer form, which will improve our understanding of CA assembly at the molecular level.
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