A scientist is conducting research to discover novel drug targets for antiretroviral agents against HIV. An HIV-positive blood sample is analyzed in the laboratory, and purified CD4 T lymphocytes are extracted. Using molecular tracing techniques, the scientist follows a viral HIV protein that is synthesized in the blood sample's T cells. The protein becomes glycosylated before being proteolytically cleaved into 2 smaller proteins in the Golgi apparatus. Which of the following best describes the function of these 2 newly formed HIV proteins?

Question

A scientist is conducting research to discover novel drug targets for antiretroviral agents against HIV.  An HIV-positive blood sample is analyzed in the laboratory, and purified CD4 T lymphocytes are extracted.  Using molecular tracing techniques, the scientist follows a viral HIV protein that is synthesized in the blood sample's T cells.  The protein becomes glycosylated before being proteolytically cleaved into 2 smaller proteins in the Golgi apparatus.  Which of the following best describes the function of these 2 newly formed HIV proteins?

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Eductional Objective: In the HIV replication cycle, polyprotein precursors are encoded by the structural genes gag, pol, and env.  Only the env gene polyprotein product (gp160) is glycosylated.  This polyprotein is subsequently cleaved in the Golgi apparatus to form the envelope glycoproteins gp120 and gp41.

A Scientist Is Conducting Research to Discover Novel Drug Targets