TRIM5alpha

Abstract

TRIM5α protein blocks retroviral replication at early postentry stage reducing the accumulation of reverse transcriptase products. TRIM5α proteins of Old World primates restrict HIV-1 infection whereas TRIM5α proteins of most New World monkeys restrict SIVmac infection. TRIM5α protein has a RING domain, B-box 2 domain, coiled-coil domain, and PRYSPRY domain. The PRYSPRY domain of TRIM5α determines viral specificity and restriction potency by mediating recognition of the retroviral capsid. The coiled-coil domain is essential for TRIM5α oligomerization, which contributes to binding avidity for the viral capsid. The RING domain and B-box 2 domain are required for efficient restriction activity of TRIM5α protein but the mechanisms remain to be defined. © 2009 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.