HIV

Question 1

What are the structural genes in HIV called?

Answer 1

gag, pol, env

Question 2

What does the pol-gene encode?

Answer 2

RNA dependent DNA pol (reverse transcriptase), protease, integrase

Question 3

What does the env-gene encode?

Answer 3

gp120 (surface glycoprotein) and gp41 (transmembrane glycoprotein)

Question 4

How does HIV evade an immunological response?

Answer 4

Its surface proteins is heavily glycosylated. Furthermore, the exposed regions are hypervariable and mutates a lot, causing new antibodies having to be made all the time.

Question 5

What receptors are needed for HIV entry?

Answer 5

CD4, CCR5, CXCR4

Question 6

How is HIV transcription regulated?

Answer 6

By Tat protein and Rev. Tat protein binds to promotor regions and enhances transcription. Rev protein transports unspliced/incorrectly spliced late genes out of the nucleus.

Question 7

How does HIV switch from early vs late genes?

Answer 7

Early genes are spliced correctly and transported out by cellular mRNA transport mechanisms. Late genes need to be transported by Rev (encoded by early genes)