Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 Gag, Protease, Reverse transcriptase, and Envelope proteins (HIV-1 Gag/PR/RT/Env)

The target "HIV-1 Gag / protease / reverse transcriptase / Env" represents a collective group of the primary structural and enzymatic proteins of the Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 (HIV-1). The Gag polyprotein (UniProt P04591) serves as the structural scaffold for viral assembly and budding from the host cell membrane. Protease (PR, UniProt P03367) is an aspartyl protease essential for the maturation of viral particles by cleaving polyprotein precursors into functional units. Reverse Transcriptase (RT, UniProt P03366) is a multifunctional enzyme responsible for the critical step of reverse transcribing the viral RNA genome into proviral DNA for integration into the host genome. The Envelope (Env, UniProt P04578) glycoprotein complex (gp120/gp41) facilitates the virus's entry into host cells by binding to CD4 receptors and co-receptors. These proteins are the fundamental targets of modern Antiretroviral Therapy (ART), which utilizes combinations of Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors (RTIs), Protease Inhibitors (PIs), and Entry Inhibitors to suppress viral replication (NIH HIVinfo, 2023). Therapeutic challenges include the rapid development of drug resistance due to the high error rate of Reverse Transcriptase and long-term toxicities associated with chronic drug exposure (PubMed: 30234451).

Other names

HIV-1 polyproteinsHIV-1 structural and enzymatic proteinsHIV-1 Gag-Pol and EnvHIV-1 core and envelope proteins

Inhibition of viral RNA-to-DNA conversion (RTIs), inhibition of polyprotein maturation (PIs), blockade of viral attachment or fusion (Entry Inhibitors), and inhibition of viral capsid maturation (Maturation Inhibitors).