Rapid formation of human immunodeficiency virus-like particles

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Abstract
Significance: Currently, our knowledge of individual virus particle assembly kinetics is based solely on studies of the dynamics of fluorescent puncta corresponding to the viral structural protein called Gag labeled with fluorescent proteins (e.g., green fluorescent protein [GFP]) observed by fluorescence microscopy in membranes of cells. However, GFP tagging affects virus particle assembly and release. We directly measured topological changes during HIV-like particle assembly and found that they can reach full size in 20 s and release in 0.5 to 3 min. Compared to previous estimates of ∼8-min assembly time and 30- to 60-min release time, this is more than 10 times faster. In our opinion this is a highly important discovery that challenges current views on virus replication mechanisms.
Funding Information
  • RCUK | Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BB/M022080/1)
  • RCUK | Medical Research Council (MC_UU00012/1)
  • RCUK | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EP/I003983/1)
  • Russian Science Foundation (19-79-30062)
  • RCUK | Medical Research Council (MC_U12266B)

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