 Trim5alpha is a protein that has been shown to play a key role in blocking the entry of HIV-1 virus into cells. New research suggests that it may also be involved in maintaining latent HIV-1 infection. The study found that knocking down Trim5alpha can lead to increased transcription of HIV-1 genes, while overexpression of Trim5alpha can reverse this effect. This suggests that Trim5alpha plays a role in regulating the activity of HIV-1 genes. Further investigation revealed that Trim5alpha interacts with histone deacetylases, which are enzymes that remove acetyl groups from histones, leading to changes in chromatin structure. This interaction leads to the recruitment of HDAC-1, which then causes H3K9 deacetylation at the HIV-1 LTR promoter region. This process is important for the activation of HIV-1 provirus and its subsequent reactivation from latency.