Relationships between plasma membrane microdomains and HIV‐1 assembly

Advances in cell biology and biophysics revealed that cellular membranes consist of multiple microdomains with specific sets of components such as lipid rafts and TEMs (tetraspanin‐enriched microdomains). An increasing number of enveloped viruses have been shown to utilize these microdomains during their assembly. Among them, association of HIV‐1 (HIV type 1) and other retroviruses with lipid rafts and TEMs within the PM (plasma membrane) is well documented. In this review, I describe our current knowledge on interrelationships between PM microdomain organization and the HIV‐1 particle assembly process. Microdomain association during virus particle assembly may also modulate subsequent virus spread. Potential roles played by microdomains will be discussed with regard to two post‐assembly events, i.e., inhibition of virus release by a raft‐associated protein BST‐2/tetherin and cell‐to‐cell HIV‐1 transmission at virological synapses.