Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Pol Protein (Pol)

The Human Immunodeficiency Virus type 1 (HIV-1) Pol protein is a multifunctional viral polyprotein essential for HIV replication. It encodes the major enzymatic activities required for the virus's life cycle, including protease (PR), reverse transcriptase (RT), and integrase (IN). These enzymes are responsible for processing viral proteins, synthesizing DNA from RNA, and integrating viral DNA into the host genome. The Pol protein’s enzymatic activities are critical at multiple stages: Viral protease cleaves both Gag and Gag–Pol precursors to generate structural proteins and enzymes needed for new virion assembly. RT converts single-stranded viral RNA into double-stranded DNA after infection of target cells. RNase H degrades the original RNA strand after it has been copied into DNA. Integrase inserts newly synthesized proviral DNA into the host cell genome. Disruption or inhibition of any domain impairs virus replication. All three main enzymatic activities encoded by pol—PR, RT, IN—are major targets for antiretroviral drugs.

Other names

HIV-1 PolProtease (PR)Reverse Transcriptase (RT)Integrase (IN)

Inhibition of viral protease, reverse transcriptase, or integrase activity, thereby disrupting viral replication.