Immunodeficiency virus protease

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HIV-1 protease is a protein made by the HIV virus that is crucial to the virus's infectious capacity. The virus makes certain proteins that need to be cleaved, or cut, in order to transform into mature, fully-functional proteins that can allow the virus to infect new cells. HIV-1 protease is responsible for cleaving these nascent proteins into their mature form.
HIV-1 protease is a protein made by the HIV virus that is crucial to the virus's infectious capacity. The virus makes certain proteins that need to be cleaved, or cut, in order to transform into mature, fully-functional proteins that can allow the virus to infect new cells. HIV-1 protease is responsible for cleaving these nascent proteins into their mature form.
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Looking at the structure of HIV-1 protease, we see that the protein is composed of <scene name='HIV-1_protease/1hhp_bio_chains/1'>two symmetric chains</scene>. These two small chains, each only 99 amino acids long, come together in such as way as to form a tunnel where they meet. The protein to-be-cleaved sits in this tunnel. In the middle of the tunnel is the active site of the protease: an Asp-Thr-Gly (25, 26, and 27) catalytic triad withthe two Asps acting as the catalytic residues.
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''This page is not a fully developed page, but was created as an example for the press release of the [http://genomebiology.com/2008/9/8/R121 Proteopedia article] in the open-access journal Genome Biology. Please expand this page with additional information and references.''
''This page is not a fully developed page, but was created as an example for the press release of the [http://genomebiology.com/2008/9/8/R121 Proteopedia article] in the open-access journal Genome Biology. Please expand this page with additional information and references.''

Revision as of 16:09, 15 August 2008

Template:STRUCTURE 1hhp HIV is a notoriously lethal virus that is known to cause AIDS. There currently is no cure or vaccine. But, scientists have discovered treatments that can slow progression of the HIV virus, thanks in large part to our understanding of the structure of HIV-1 protease, seen here on the right.

HIV-1 protease is a protein made by the HIV virus that is crucial to the virus's infectious capacity. The virus makes certain proteins that need to be cleaved, or cut, in order to transform into mature, fully-functional proteins that can allow the virus to infect new cells. HIV-1 protease is responsible for cleaving these nascent proteins into their mature form.

Looking at the structure of HIV-1 protease, we see that the protein is composed of . These two small chains, each only 99 amino acids long, come together in such as way as to form a tunnel where they meet. The protein to-be-cleaved sits in this tunnel. In the middle of the tunnel is the active site of the protease: an Asp-Thr-Gly (25, 26, and 27) catalytic triad withthe two Asps acting as the catalytic residues.


This page is not a fully developed page, but was created as an example for the press release of the Proteopedia article in the open-access journal Genome Biology. Please expand this page with additional information and references.

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