The HIV protease has been the target of several anti-HIV medications called protease inhibitors. This antiviral strategy is possible because protease inhibitors ________.
A) cause protease to precipitate out of the cell by combining with certain salt solutions
B) cleave at specific places in viral polypeptides, resulting in the destruction of reverse transcriptase
C) prevent HIV from generating ATP in the host cell
D) prevent the formation of active viral proteins

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Protease inhibitors prevent the formation of active viral proteins. Specifically, they bind to the HIV protease enzyme and block its activity, preventing the virus from cleaving large viral polypeptides into functional smaller proteins. This interferes with the replication of the virus and ultimately prevents it from producing new infectious particles.

The HIV Protease Has Been the Target of Several Anti-HIV