Gag-Pol polyprotein, HIV (440a.a, His)

The Gag-Pol polyprotein assumes a central role in the virion assembly process, collaborating with the Gag polyprotein to orchestrate essential events such as binding to the plasma membrane, facilitating protein-protein interactions crucial for spherical particle formation, recruiting viral Env proteins, and packaging genomic RNA through direct interactions with the RNA packaging sequence (Psi). This polyprotein potentially regulates its own translation by binding genomic RNA in the 5'-UTR, exhibiting a dual role in promoting translation at low concentrations and encapsidating genomic RNA to inhibit translation at higher concentrations. The multipartite membrane-binding signal, including the myristoylated N-terminus, targets the polyprotein to the plasma membrane. Additionally, the Matrix protein within the polyprotein is implicated in the pre-integration complex and is associated with the release from the host cell mediated by Vpu. The ability of Gag-Pol to bind to RNA further underscores its multifaceted functions in the intricate process of virion assembly.