Infectious Disease - Viruses & Antivirals › HIV Overview

HIV Virion Structure

Notes

HIV Virion Structure

  • First draw the viral capsid structure.
    • It is made up of the p24 protein.
  • Within the capsid, draw the viral RNA.
    • HIV has two copies of its genome.
  • Along the RNA, draw nucleocapsid protein (p7 protein).
    • This protein is important for viral RNA translation and packaging.
  • Also in the capsid, draw integrase and reverse transcriptase proteins
    – both of which are necessary for the RNA genome of HIV to enter the host DNA.
  • Next, draw the viral envelope, which is made up of host cellular membrane lipids and proteins; it fuses with the host plasma membrane during infection.
  • Draw within the inner layer of the viral envelope the viral matrix protein (p17 protein).
  • Within the matrix, draw the viral protease.
    • It is necessary for the maturation of the virus: it cleaves a precursor polypeptide to produce key proteins.
  • Draw envelope spikes traveling from the matrix through the envelope.
    • The envelope spike is made of three gp41/gp120 heterodimers.
    • Label the gp41 and gp120 sections of the envelope spike.