# Identifying determinants of HIV-1 responsible for the nanoscale distribution and dynamics of virus assembly

> **NIH NIH R56** · UNIVERSITY OF DENVER (COLORADO SEMINARY) · 2023 · $366,635

## Abstract

Project Summary.
Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type-1 (HIV-1) assembly mechanisms, namely the acquisition of the envelope
glycoprotein (Env) into the assembling viral lattice, remains inadequately understood. The continued innovation
of tools to interrogate these molecular and nanoscale assembly processes is beginning to disclose some of the
basic principles. This proposal aims to build upon these innovations and quantify the requirements for Env
assembly by interrogating viral and host factor determinants regulating intracellular trafficking, surface display,
virus incorporation, and cell-to-cell spread. To accomplish these aims, we will adapt current superresolution
and single-molecule tracking approaches developed by our laboratory to understand the three-dimensional
structural organization and spatiotemporal dynamics of Env throughout assembly stages and cell-to-cell
spread. Next, we will dissect the long Env cytoplasmic tail to understand which residues/regions drive Env
incorporation. Finally, we propose to utilize genetic knock-out to understand the role of identified host
trafficking factors in regulating the surface levels of Env. Our preliminary data supports the feasibility of our
approach by demonstrating our ability to extract quantitative information regarding the nanoscale organization
and single-molecule dynamics of Env in three-dimensions. These collective approaches will shed new light on
HIV-1 assembly and cell-to-cell virus transfer, informing new models and approaches aimed at targeting these
processes therapeutically.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10849961
- **Project number:** 2R56AI138625-06
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF DENVER (COLORADO SEMINARY)
- **Principal Investigator:** Schuyler van Engelenburg
- **Activity code:** R56 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2023
- **Award amount:** $366,635
- **Award type:** 2
- **Project period:** 2018-05-10 → 2024-05-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10849961

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10849961, Identifying determinants of HIV-1 responsible for the nanoscale distribution and dynamics of virus assembly (2R56AI138625-06). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10849961. Licensed CC0.

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