AZT-resistant HIV-1 reverse transcriptase: Difference between revisions
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{{STRUCTURE_3klg | PDB=3klg | SCENE= }} | |||
==Human Immunodeficiency Virus ([[HIV]])== | ==Human Immunodeficiency Virus ([[HIV]])== | ||
[[HIV]] is a virus that damages the immune system of those affected by it. When a person is [[HIV]] positive, the virus infects the host's Helper T cells by attaching to the CD4 receptor on the host cell and fusing the viral envelope with the host cell membrane. The viral particles are then released into the host cell. Once inside the T cell cytoplasm, the viral enzyme, reverse transcriptase, coverts the virus' single stranded RNA into double stranded DNA. This capability classifies [[HIV]] as a retrovirus. The viral [[DNA]] is then incorporated into the host genome using the viral enzyme, integrase. The host genome now contains viral information and each time the host replicates, the viral genetic information is passed on to daughter cells. This makes [[HIV]] particularly difficult to treat, as it protects itself by incorporating its genetic information into that of the host. In addition, [[HIV]] is able to remain dormant in a host's body for a period of time before it hijacks the host cell and uses the host to create new viral particles. | [[HIV]] is a virus that damages the immune system of those affected by it. When a person is [[HIV]] positive, the virus infects the host's Helper T cells by attaching to the CD4 receptor on the host cell and fusing the viral envelope with the host cell membrane. The viral particles are then released into the host cell. Once inside the T cell cytoplasm, the viral enzyme, reverse transcriptase, coverts the virus' single stranded RNA into double stranded DNA. This capability classifies [[HIV]] as a retrovirus. The viral [[DNA]] is then incorporated into the host genome using the viral enzyme, integrase. The host genome now contains viral information and each time the host replicates, the viral genetic information is passed on to daughter cells. This makes [[HIV]] particularly difficult to treat, as it protects itself by incorporating its genetic information into that of the host. In addition, [[HIV]] is able to remain dormant in a host's body for a period of time before it hijacks the host cell and uses the host to create new viral particles. | ||
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==Structure of Reverse Transcriptase== | ==Structure of Reverse Transcriptase== | ||
[[Reverse transcriptase]] is a heterodimer of two related <scene name='AZT-resistant_HIV-1_reverse_transcriptase/Subunits/1'>subunits</scene>: p66 and p51. These subunits consist of four sub-domains fingers, thumb, palm, and connection, although the positions of the sub-domains relative to each other is different for each subunit. The larger subunit, p66, contains the active sites for both enzymatic activities (DNA polymerase and RNase H), while the smaller subunit, p51, has a structural role. | [[Reverse transcriptase]] is a heterodimer of two related <scene name='AZT-resistant_HIV-1_reverse_transcriptase/Subunits/1'>subunits</scene>: p66 and p51. These subunits consist of four sub-domains fingers, thumb, palm, and connection, although the positions of the sub-domains relative to each other is different for each subunit. The larger subunit, p66, contains the active sites for both enzymatic activities (DNA polymerase and RNase H), while the smaller subunit, p51, has a structural role. | ||
[[Image:RT finger.png]] | [[Image:RT finger.png]] | ||
==Inhibition of Reverse Transcriptase Activity== | ==Inhibition of Reverse Transcriptase Activity== | ||
