The Role of Lipids in Retroviral Replication

Abstract Retroviruses interact with cellular membranes at various stages of their replication cycle, including the complex processes of membrane fusion during virus entry, and membrane fission late in the replication cycle. For most retroviruses, both entry and egress take place at the plasma membrane of the host cell. Relative to the other components of the retrovirus particle (proteins and nucleic acids), the role of viral lipids is poorly understood. However, recent studies have revealed important functions for lipids and membrane microdomains in virus–membrane interactions for a number of retroviruses. In this chapter, we provide an overview of our current understanding of the role that lipids and membrane microdomains play in retroviral replication.