HIV Protease

HIV protease is a critical enzyme in the life cycle of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), the virus responsible for causing AIDS. This enzyme is essential for the maturation of the virus, as it cleaves newly synthesized polyproteins into functional virus proteins. By cutting these polyproteins at specific sites, HIV protease enables the viral particles to become infectious. This makes it a key target for antiretroviral therapy. Inhibitors of HIV protease disrupt the virus's ability to replicate by blocking this necessary processing step, thereby preventing the formation of mature viral components. The development and use of HIV protease inhibitors have significantly improved the management of HIV infection, turning what was once a fatal disease into a manageable chronic condition.