HIV-I Protease Based Inhibitor Discovery

Abstract

We can devise a drug (inhibitor) to restrain the activity of gene. As a gene engenders protein/enzyme, so to circumvent the development of any disease causing proteins, we have to stop the activity of that gene. With the aid of different bioinformatics tools and software’s we can do this. A protease is an enzyme that smites proteins to their constituent peptides. The HIV-I Protease (PR) hydrolyses viral polyproteins into functional protein products that are vital for viral assembly and subsequent activity. HIV-I protease activity is decisive for the terminal maturation of infectious virions. Once HIV enters the cell, viral RNA experiences reverse transcription to generate double-stranded DNA (a step inhibited by nucleoside analogues such as zidovudine, didanosine, zalcitabine, stavudine, and lamivudine).

In the presence of HIV-I protease inhibitors, the virion is incapable to mature and is quickly cleared by inadequately comprehended mechanisms. Figure 1, left, is a photomicrograph of normal budding virions from an infected cell, while Figure 1, right, determines the effect of bathing these cells with the protease inhibitor, saquinavir. The consequent lack of a dense core for these "ghosted" particles is the feature of noninfectious HIV virions. By applying ncbi we can acquire the nucleotide and protein sequence of HIV-I Protease. By tool and softwares like pfam, clustalw, gold, blast, we designed the inhibitor “SKF 108737”for HIV-I protease.

Keywords: Inhibitor (Drug), HIV-I protease