Nucleocapsid (p7)

Structure

• 55 amino acid protein 
• Contains two highly conserved zinc CCHC binding motifs
• Extensively coats the HIV RNA
• About 1,500-2,000 nucleocapsid molecules extensively coat the HIV genomic RNA (as dimers)
• Each nucleocapsid molecule binds to about 11 to 12 HIV nucleotide residues

Function

• Provides protection of genomic HIV RNA
• Nucleic acid chaperone (facilitates remodeling of nucleic acid structures to form the most thermodynamically stable conformations)
• Involved in initiation of reverse transcription and in subsequent strand transfer or template-switching events

• Key factor for the early assembly complex formation by Gag multimerization on the genomic HIV RNA

• Best Reference: Muriaux