Figure 1.

The current conceptual model for ESCRT mediated HIV‐1 budding. HIV budding initiates by specific recognition between two late motifs, located within the p6 domain of Gag, and the ESCRT complexes: the PTAP motif interacts with TSG101 of ESCRT‐I, and the YPXL motif interacts with ALIX. The requirement for the ESCRT‐II complex in this process is under debate. The two pathways converge at the recruitment of CHMP4B of the ESCRT‐III complex. The final scission event is catalysed by the AAA ATPase VPS4, which is believed to depolymerise the ESCRT‐III proteins for recycling. ESCRT‐ endosomal sorting complex required for transport; HIV‐ human immunodeficiency virus; MVB‐ multivesicular body