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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.