Gag–Pol polyprotein (Pr160Gag-Pol)

The Gag–Pol polyprotein is a large, multifunctional precursor protein encoded by the HIV-1 genome. It is essential for virion assembly, maturation, and reverse transcription. Cleavage of Gag–Pol by the viral protease is required to produce mature, infectious viral particles. It mediates binding to the plasma membrane, protein-protein interactions necessary for creating spherical particles, recruitment of viral Env proteins, and packaging of genomic RNA via direct interaction with the RNA packaging sequence (Psi).

Other names

gag-polPr160GagPol

Targeted by protease inhibitors to prevent cleavage into mature proteins; reverse transcriptase inhibitors to inhibit DNA synthesis; integrase inhibitors to prevent integration of viral DNA into the host genome