Description
Product Characteristics:
Description: TRIM5-alpha is a protein that is found in the cells of many mammals and fends of various retrovirus infections. It protects monkeys from infection with HIV-1, and humans from infection with some other viruses. If a retrovirus has entered a cell, it needs to shed its capsid in order to reversely transcribe its genes, so that they can be expressed by the host cell. It is believed that TRIM5 alpha, which is present in the cytoplasm, somehow recognizes the capsid and blocks its shedding, thereby stopping the virus in its tracks. It thus represents an intracellular defense completely separate from the rest of the body's immune system.
Aliases: RNF88, TRIM5alpha
Target Information: The protein encoded by this gene is a member of the tripartite motif (TRIM) family. The TRIM motif includes three zinc-binding domains, a RING, a B-box type 1 and a B-box type 2, and a coiled-coil region. The protein forms homo-oligomers via the coilel-coil region and localizes to cytoplasmic bodies. It appears to function as a E3 ubiquitin-ligase and ubiqutinates itself to regulate its subcellular localization. It may play a role in retroviral restriction. Multiple alternatively spliced transcript variants encoding different isoforms have been described for this gene. [provided by RefSeq, Dec 2009]