Investigating factors that affect HIV-1 capsid stability

Authors

Max Mao, Yale University
Joshua Temple, Yale University

Abstract

TKH HIV caSVLd, a SURWHLQ VKHOO cRPSRVHd RI PRQRPHULc XQLWV RI CA, IRUPV a IXOOHUHQH cRQH WKaW SURWHcWV HIV¶V YLUaO JHQRPH aQd enzymes during infection. I am interested in elucidating the factors that influence stability of the capsid shell and capturing the structural interactions between HIV capsid, host restriction factors, and small molecules using biochemical and structural biology techniques. HIV capsid shell was broken down and purified into hexamer and pentamer units for in vitro study. Structural assays were performed using X-ray crystallography and biochemical analysis was performed using pelleting assays. By understanding capsid structure with factors that confer stability, treatments can be designed to target the protective HIV capsid before the critical step of viral genome integration with host DNA.

Recommended Citation

Mao, Max and Temple, Joshua (2020) "Investigating factors that affect HIV-1 capsid stability," The Yale Undergraduate Research Journal: Vol. 1: Iss. 1, Article 44.
Available at: https://elischolar.library.yale.edu/yurj/vol1/iss1/44