# Project 1. Maturation and Assembly

> **NIH NIH U54** · UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH AT PITTSBURGH · 2022 · $485,148

## Abstract

Project 1 – HIV-1 Maturation and Assembly
The overall goal of this project is to identify and exploit key, potentially druggable complexes and interactions
that are present during HIV-1 assembly and maturation, including Gag and its maturation intermediates, the viral
ribonucleoprotein (vRNP) complex, and the matrix (MA)-glycoprotein 41 (gp41) cytoplasmic tail interaction. The
proposed studies are an integrated effort from 11 PCHPI investigators and four cores (NMR, CryoEM/ET,
Computational, and HIV Virology). The specific aims are designed to i) understand the molecular, biochemical,
and structural basis for maturation inhibitor (MI) and allosteric integrase inhibitor (ALLINI) activity and resistance
pathways; ii) define the organization of RNA and proteins in the viral ribonucleoprotein complex (vRNPs) and at
specific stages of maturation; and iii) characterize the interaction between the MA domain of Gag and the
cytoplasmic tail of gp41. The structural and mechanistic knowledge gained through the proposed work will inform
the development of novel MIs and ALLINIs with improved antiviral potency and potentially guide approaches to
inhibit protein interactions in HIV-1 vRNPs and in MA-gp41 complexes.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10506952
- **Project number:** 1U54AI170791-01
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH AT PITTSBURGH
- **Principal Investigator:** Barbie K. Ganser-Pornillos
- **Activity code:** U54 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $485,148
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2022-07-01 → 2027-04-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10506952

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10506952, Project 1. Maturation and Assembly (1U54AI170791-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10506952. Licensed CC0.

---

*[NIH grants dataset](/datasets/nih-grants) · CC0 1.0*