Capsid Information and Courses from MediaLab, Inc.

These are the MediaLab courses that cover Capsid and links to relevant pages within the course.

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CLIA Microbiology / Serology Review
Which of the following is not a structural component of a typical virion:	View Page

HIV Safety for Florida
The protein component that surrounds the genome is called a:	View Page
Function of HIV Genes HIV consists of nine genes. Three of the genes provide genetic information for the capsid proteins, envelope proteins, and viral enzymes. The other six genes are regulatory genes, controlling functions such as uncoating of the HIV genome and the penetration of host cells. Gene Number Abbreviation Gene Function 1 gag capsid proteins 2 pol viral enzymes 3 env envelope proteins 4 vif regulatory gene 5 tat regulatory gene 6 vpu regulatory gene 7 nef regulatory gene 8 vpr regulatory gene 9 rev regulatory gene	View Page
Basic Structural Components HIV consists of two basic components: a core of nucleic acid, called the genome, and a protein component that surrounds the genome, called a capsid. The genome carries the genetic information of the virus, while the capsid gives the virus its shape and protects the genome. The capsid is made up of subunits called capsomeres.	View Page
HIV Envelope Like many other viruses, the HIV has a lipid membrane that covers the capsid. This envelope is acquired when the virus leaves a cell after replication. The HIV envelope has projections known as spikes, which contain specific chemical components that may assist the virus when it attaches to other cells.	View Page
HIV capsid Initially, the capsid is shaped like an icosahedral.The small blue circles represent the capsomere subunit that cover the entire capsid. Later on this isocahedral capsid will restructure itself into a shape resembling a bullet.	View Page
Which structure of HIV contributes to the mutations?	View Page

HIV: Structure and Replication
The protein component that surrounds the genome is called a:	View Page
What is the source of the HIV envelope?	View Page
What is the function of the majority of HIV's genes?	View Page
Function of HIV Genes HIV consists of nine genes. Three of the genes provide genetic information for the capsid proteins, envelope proteins, and viral enzymes. The other six genes are regulatory genes, controlling functions such as uncoating of the HIV genome and the penetration of host cells. Gene NumberAbbreviationGene Function1gagcapsid proteins2polviral enzymes3envenvelope proteins4vifregulatory gene5tatregulatory gene6vpuregulatory gene7nefregulatory gene8vprregulatory gene9revregulatory gene	View Page
Basic Structural Components The HIV type-1 belongs to the Family Retroviridae and consists of two basic components: a core of nucleic acid, called the genome, and a protein component that surrounds the genome, called a capsid. The genome carries the genetic information of the virus, while the capsid gives the virus its shape and protects the genome. The capsid is made up of subunits called capsomeres.	View Page
HIV Envelope Like many other viruses, the HIV has a lipid membrane that covers the capsid. This envelope is acquired when the virus leaves a cell after replication. The HIV envelope has projections known as spikes, which contain specific chemical components that may assist the virus when it attaches to other cells.	View Page
HIV Capsid Initially, the capsid is shaped like an icosahedral.The small blue circles represent the capsomere subunit that cover the entire capsid. Later on this isocahedral capsid will restructure itself into a shape resembling a bullet.	View Page
Spread of Infection (2) At this time an enzyme called protease, using enzymes and proteins from preliminary protein molecules, forms capsomere segments which unite to form an icosahedral capsid.The capsid then changes into a bullet-shaped capsid and surrounds the viral RNA.Next some of the host cell's membrane joins with the viral glycoproteins gp120 and gp41 to form the spikes.Last, part of the host cell's surface membrane encloses the virus and becomes the envelope.	View Page
Spread of Infection (1) The proviral DNA provides genetic coding that instructs cellular enzymes to construct new HIV genomes, capsid proteins, and reverse transcriptase molecules.All of these are assembled near the edge of the host cell.	View Page
Penetration and Infection After penetration of the cell membrane by the gp41, the HIV capsid enters the cell's cytoplasm. Next, cellular enzymes strip away the capsid so that the HIV genome is released. Also stripped away are proteins p24 and p17. Protein 24 coats the HIV genome and protein 17 lines the inside of the capsid.	View Page
DNA Replication from RNA Once the capsid and p24 and p17 have been stripped away, an enzyme complex known as reverse transcriptase is released.One of the enzymes in this complex is DNA polymerase. It synthesizes a single-stranded DNA copy using one of the HIV-RNA molecules as a template.Another enzyme in this complex, called ribonuclease, then destroys the original RNA molecules while the DNA polymerase synthesizes another single-stranded DNA molecule, this time using the first DNA copy as the template.The result is a double-stranded DNA molecule.	View Page