Human T-lymphotropic virus 1 matrix protein (p19)

The Human T-lymphotropic virus 1 matrix protein (p19), also known as p19 MA, is a structural component derived from cleavage of the viral Gag polyprotein by the viral protease.[3][5][11] It forms the inner layer of the viral envelope, targeting Gag, Gag-Pro, and Gag-Pro-Pol polyproteins to the plasma membrane through a multipartite membrane-binding signal, which is essential for virion assembly and budding.[11] p19 surrounds the viral core, which contains the nucleocapsid (p15 NC), capsid (p24 CA), and genomic RNA complexed with enzymes like reverse transcriptase.[3][5] As part of HTLV-1, a deltaretrovirus causing adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATLL) and HTLV-1-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP), p19 contributes to viral replication and persistence in CD4+ T cells.[1][4] No approved drugs directly target p19, and it is not pursued as a therapeutic receptor, enzyme, or transporter due to its role as a viral structural element rather than a host protein.[1][3] Its expression serves as a marker for viral production in infected cells, detectable via assays like p19 Gag ELISA.[7]

Other names

HTLV-1 p19p19 MAGag p19matrix domain of Gag polyprotein