# HIV Core Trafficking and Restriction

> **NIH NIH P50** · UTAH STATE HIGHER EDUCATION SYSTEM--UNIVERSITY OF UTAH · 2020 · $712,302

## Abstract

ABSTRACT
This Project is designed to characterize the early post-entry steps of HIV-1 replication, core evolution, and
TRIM5α restriction in structural and mechanistic detail. Following virus-cell fusion, the viral genomic RNA
(gRNA) is reverse transcribed1-6, the core interacts with host factors and loses its capsid (“uncoating”)7-11, and
the host restriction factor TRIM5α can recognize the capsid and block these transformations.12-16 To
characterize these processes, we will determine 3D structures of replication initiation complexes that comprise
reverse transcriptase (RT), the host tRNALys,3 primer, and various gRNA templates. We will study the
conformational changes that accompany replication (Aim 1), develop and apply new single particle assays for
studying reverse transcription within isolated viral cores (Aim 2), image transduced cells using fluorescent
microscopy and correlated light and electron cryotomography (CLEM-ECT) to visualize and characterize core
trafficking, reverse transcription, uncoating and restriction (Aim 3), and reconstitute, image and model TRIM5α-
capsid complexes to learn how TRIM5α inactivates the core and stimulates innate immune responses (Aim 4).

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9993257
- **Project number:** 5P50AI150464-14
- **Recipient organization:** UTAH STATE HIGHER EDUCATION SYSTEM--UNIVERSITY OF UTAH
- **Principal Investigator:** Thomas Hope
- **Activity code:** P50 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $712,302
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2007-08-27 → 2022-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9993257

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9993257, HIV Core Trafficking and Restriction (5P50AI150464-14). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-29 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9993257. Licensed CC0.

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