TRIM5alpha

Tripartite motif-containing protein 5 also known as RING finger protein 88 is a is_associated_with::protein that in humans is encoded by the TRIM5 is_associated_with::gene. The alpha isoform of this protein, TRIM5α, is a is_associated_with::retrovirus restriction factor, which mediates species-specific, early block to retrovirus infection.

TRIM5α is composed of 493 is_associated_with::amino acids that is found in the cells of most is_associated_with::primates. TRIM5α is an intrinsic immune factor important in the innate immune defense against retroviruses, along with the is_associated_with::APOBEC family of proteins, is_associated_with::tetherin and is_associated_with::TRIM22.

Structure
TRIM5α belongs to the TRIM protein family (TRIM stands for TRIpartite Motif); this family was first identified by Reddy in 1992 as the proteins that contain a RING finger zinc binding domain, a B-box zinc binding domain, followed by a coiled-coil region. TRIM5α bears the C-terminal PRY-SPRY or B30.2 domain in addition to the other domains.

Function
When a retrovirus enters a host cell's cytoplasm, it undergoes processes such as capsid uncoating and reverse transcription. TRIM5 present in the cytoplasm recognizes motifs within the capsid proteins and interferes with the uncoating process, therefore preventing successful reverse transcription and transport to the nucleus of the viral genome. The exact mechanism of action has not been shown conclusively, but capsid protein from restricted viruses is removed by is_associated_with::proteasome-dependent degradation.

The involvement of other cellular proteins in the inhibition mediated by TRIM5α is suspected but as yet not demonstrated. However, is_associated_with::Cyclophilin A is important for the inhibition of HIV-1 by TRIM5α in Old World monkey species.

The "specificity" of restriction, that is, whether a given retrovirus can be targeted by TRIM5α, is entirely determined by the is_associated_with::amino acid sequence of the is_associated_with::C-terminal domain of the protein, called the B30.2/PRY-SPRY domain. Amino acid 332, which occurs within this domain, seems to play a critical role in determining the specificity of retrovirus restriction.

TRIM5α may have played a critical role in the human immune defense system about 4 million years ago, when the retrovirus is_associated_with::PtERV1 was infecting the ancestors of modern chimpanzees. While no trace of PtERV1 has yet been found in the human genome, about 130 traces of PtERV1 DNA have been found in the genome of modern chimpanzees. After recreating part of the PtERV1 retrovirus, it was reported that TRIM5α prevents the virus from entering human cells in vitro. While this cellular defense mechanism may have been very useful 4 million years ago when facing a PtERV1 is_associated_with::epidemic, it has the side effect of leaving cells more susceptible to attack by the HIV-1 retrovirus. Recently, doubt has been cast over these conclusions. By using a PtERV1 capsid, which produces higher titer virus-like particles, Perez-Caballero et al. reported that PtERV1 is not restricted by either human or chimpanzee TRIM5α.

Clinical significance
is_associated_with::Old World monkeys cannot be infected with HIV-1, the virus that causes is_associated_with::AIDS in humans; they can be infected, however, with SIV, a related virus. TRIM5α was isolated as a is_associated_with::rhesus macaque protein responsible for blocking infection by HIV-1.

The human version of TRIM5α does not target HIV-1, but can inhibit strains of the is_associated_with::murine leukemia virus (MLV) as well as equine infectious anemia virus (EIAV).

Prior to the discovery of TRIM5α as an antiviral protein, the inhibition is_associated_with::phenotype had been described and coined Ref1 (in human cells) and Lv1 (in monkey cells). This terminology is now largely abandoned.

A related protein, named TRIMCyp (or TRIM5-CypA), was isolated in the is_associated_with::owl monkey, a species of is_associated_with::New World monkey, and shown to potently inhibit infection by HIV-1. A similar protein has arisen independently in Old World monkeys and has been identified in several species of macaque.