Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 Envelope, Group-specific antigen, and Polymerase polyproteins (HIV-1 Env/Gag/Pol)

The HIV-1 Env, Gag, and Pol polyproteins are the fundamental building blocks and enzymatic machinery of the Human Immunodeficiency Virus type 1 (UniProt: P04578, P04591). The Env polyprotein is processed into gp120 and gp41, which are responsible for viral attachment to CD4 receptors and subsequent membrane fusion (PubMed: 29165035). Gag (p55) provides the structural scaffold necessary for viral assembly, budding, and release from the host cell membrane (PubMed: 22301151). The Pol polyprotein encodes the essential enzymes—protease, reverse transcriptase, and integrase—that drive the viral life cycle by converting RNA to DNA and integrating it into the host genome (NIH: AIDSinfo). These proteins are the primary targets for highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART), which employs various inhibitors to block viral replication at multiple stages. Despite the success of current drugs, the high mutation rate of these polyproteins leads to drug resistance, necessitating the continuous development of new therapeutic strategies and vaccine candidates (PubMed: 30135525).

Other names

HIV-1 polyproteinsEnv-Gag-Polgp160/p55/p160HIV-1 structural and enzymatic proteins

Inhibition of viral entry (CCR5 antagonism, attachment inhibition), fusion inhibition, capsid inhibition, reverse transcriptase inhibition (nucleoside and non-nucleoside), integrase strand transfer inhibition, and protease inhibition (NIH: HIV Treatment Guidelines).