With the virus components precariously assembled on the inner leaflet of the plasma membrane, the host cell machinery is required for viral budding. The virus takes advantage of the host ESCRT pathway to terminate Gag polymerization and catalyze release. The ESCRT pathway is normally responsible for membrane fission that creates cytoplasm filled vesicular bodies. In this case HIV (and other viruses) take advantage of the ESCRT cellular machinery to facilitate virion budding from the host.
Sundquist, WI, Kräusslich, HG
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