genetics of HIV
Last reviewed 01/2018
There are three genes in HIV which are characteristic of all retroviruses:
- gag:
- encodes a precursor protein (Pr55)
- cleavage yields:
- p17 matrix protein
- p24 capsid protein
- p9 nucleocapsid protein
- p6
- pol encodes reverse transcriptase, endonuclease and protease activities
- env:
- encodes a precursor protein p160
- cleavage yields:
- p41 a transmembrane protein which anchors p120
- p120 binds non-covalently to p41 and acts as the CD4 receptor
In addition to these typical genes there are other regulatory genes.