Tripartite motif (TRIM)5␣ has recently been identified as a host restriction factor that has the ability to block infection by certain retroviruses in a species-dependent manner. One interesting feature of this protein is that it is localized in distinct cytoplasmic clusters designated as cytoplasmic bodies. The potential role of these cytoplasmic bodies in TRIM5␣ function remains to be defined. By using fluorescent fusion proteins and live cell microscopy, we studied the localization and dynamics of TRIM5␣ cytoplasmic bodies. This analysis reveals that cytoplasmic bodies are highly mobile, exhibiting both short saltatory movements and unidirectional long-distance movements along the microtubule network. The morphology of the cytoplasmic bodies is also dynamic. Finally, photobleaching and photoactivation analysis reveals that the TRIM5␣ protein present in the cytoplasmic bodies is very dynamic, rapidly exchanging between cytoplasmic bodies and a more diffuse cytoplasmic population. Therefore, TRIM5␣ cytoplasmic bodies are dynamic structures more consistent with a role in function or regulation rather than protein aggregates or inclusion bodies that represent dead-end static structures.
INTRODUCTIONThe species-specific tropism of many retroviruses is determined by cellular restriction factors present in the cells of the host. One of the most well characterized restriction factors is the murine Fv1 gene, which prevents infection by particular strains of murine leukemia virus (MLV) (Best et al., 1996; for review, see Bieniasz, 2004;Goff, 2004). It is known that restriction by Fv1 involves the recognition of a capsid determinant in MLV (DesGroseillers et al., 1983;Kozak and Chakraborti, 1996). Analysis of Fv1 restriction indicates that restricted MLV strains can generate reverse transcription products but that they are unable to complete subsequent steps in infection (Pryciak and Varmus, 1992) and also that this restriction of infection is saturable, because it can be overcome with high levels of virus (Pincus et al., 1975;Duran-Troise et al., 1977).A similar restriction to human immunodeficiency virus 1 (HIV-1) infection in primates has also been well characterized; and recently, the cellular factor present in the cells of Old World monkeys responsible for restricting infection by HIV-1 was cloned and identified as the cytoplasmic body component tripartite motif (TRIM)5␣ . Restriction of HIV-1 infection by TRIM5␣ resembles restriction of MLV infection by Fv1 in many ways. TRIM5␣-mediated restriction is saturable with high multiplicity of infection (MOI), and the specificity of TRIM5␣-mediated HIV-1 restriction is governed by the recognition of a capsid determinant in the restricted virus similar to the case of Fv1-mediated restriction of MLV infection (Towers et al., 2000;Cowan et al., 2002;Owens et al., 2003Owens et al., , 2004Hatziioannou et al., 2004). However, TRIM5␣-mediated restriction differs from Fv1-mediated restriction in that TRIM5␣-mediated restriction is manifested earlier in the infectious pathway, b...