HIV Protease - Active Site Overview HIV - Protease
 
    
  
  
Overview
  
   Top view (rotate 90)
   (Slow)
  

Active Site

   Catalytic Asp   
  Specificity:

  Molecular surface:
  [Orange: Leu23, Pro81, Val82]
  [Grey: entire drug]

  

This Jmol page shows the structure of HIV protease bound to an inhibitor (HIV drug). In this complex, a number of non-polar residues of the protease make extensive contacts the inhibitor, providing a hydrophobic binding pocket that stabilizes the drug-enzyme complex. The presence of the drug in the active site prevents the protease from binding its normal substrate.