Question

The HIV virus attacks the human immune system causing extensive damage. This virus contains several enzymes, including an aspartyl protease, which are important for virus survival. What general reaction does the protease catalyze?

Answer 1

The aspartyl protease enzyme in HIV catalyzes the hydrolysis of peptide bonds in viral precursor proteins, which is vital for virus maturation. Inhibiting this enzyme is key in antiretroviral therapy to prevent HIV replication and progression.

Step-by-step explanation:

The aspartyl protease enzyme that the HIV virus contains catalyzes the hydrolysis of peptide bonds in viral polyprotein precursors. This hydrolytic process is essential for the virus as it cleaves these precursors into functional viral proteins which are necessary for the virus to mature and become infectious. Therefore, inhibiting the action of HIV-1 protease through pharmaceutical interventions hinders the virus's ability to replicate, making it an important target in antiretroviral therapy (ART).

Antiretroviral therapy constitutes a combination of drugs that interfere with different stages of the HIV life cycle. These drugs, which often include protease inhibitors, serve to prolong the lives of individuals with HIV by preventing the virus from proliferating and further damaging the immune system. Given HIV's rapid mutation rate and its method of evading the immune system, targeting the viral enzymes directly is a strategy that can significantly inhibit the progress of the disease.