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Protease

Structure

  • HIV-1 protease is an aspartyl protease that consists of two connected identical 99 amino-acid protein chains (homodimers)
  • Has single active site at location where homodimers join
  • Contains flexible flap region that can open, the protease can wrap around protein, and when the flap closes it cleaves the peptide bond in the HIV polyprotein.

Function

The HIV-1 protease functions as a molecular scissors. The HIV-1 protease is responsible for processing of the gag and gag-pol polyproteins, including an autocleavage step that result in the release of the HIV protease. 

The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provided financial support for this (website, PowerPoint, podcast, mini-lecture, etc.). The award provided 100% of total costs and totaled $299,994 from HRSA and $603,203 from CDC. The contents are those of the author. They may not reflect the policies of HRSA, HHS, CDC, or the U.S. Government.

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