Uncoating of the HIV virion occurs:

Explanation

Uncoating of the HIV virion occurs in the cytoplasm of the host cell shortly after the viral envelope fuses with the host plasma membrane. Following attachment to the CD4 receptor and a co-receptor, the viral envelope merges with the cell membrane, allowing the viral core, or capsid, to enter the cytoplasm. The capsid then undergoes controlled disassembly, releasing the viral RNA genome along with essential enzymes such as reverse transcriptase and integrase. This uncoating process is closely linked to reverse transcription, as the viral RNA is converted into DNA while the disassembly proceeds gradually, often as the reverse transcription complex moves toward the nucleus. Thus, uncoating is an early cytoplasmic event that prepares the viral genome for integration into the host DNA.