Human Immunodeficiency Virus Polymerase Protein (HIV Pol)

The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) polymerase protein, commonly referred to as HIV Pol, is a multifunctional viral enzyme complex essential for the replication of HIV. It is initially synthesized as part of a larger Gag-Pol polyprotein and subsequently cleaved by the viral protease into three key enzymes: protease (PR), reverse transcriptase (RT), and integrase (IN). The primary function of the polymerase component is to catalyze the synthesis of DNA from the viral RNA genome—a process known as reverse transcription. The HIV polymerase protein is indispensable for viral genome replication, generation of genetic diversity, and integration of proviral DNA into host cells. All three enzymatic activities encoded by pol—proteases, reverse transcriptases, integrases—are major targets for antiretroviral drugs used in HIV therapy.

Other names

HIV PolymeraseHIV Reverse TranscriptaseHIV IntegraseHIV ProteaseReverse TranscriptaseIntegraseProteaseRTINPR

Inhibition of reverse transcription, integration, or proteolytic processing of viral proteins