title: Protease gene structure and env gene variability of the AIDS virus.
abstract: The protease gene structure and the env gene variability have been precisely compared between the AIDS virus and members of the HTLV/BLV family. The conserved amino acid sequence (LVDT) which is repeated in the proteases of the HTLV/BLV family is not repeated in AIDS virus. Comparative analysis of the env gene sequences reveals the striking fact that the env gene of AIDS virus is 8-12-times more variable than those of the HTLV/BLV family. Within the AIDS virus env gene, the surface glycoprotein region is more liable to vary than is the transmembrane region; unexpectedly, however, this liability is not a characteristic feature of the AIDS virus because it is more prominent in other retroviruses including members of the HTLV/BLV family.
mesh_terms: D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000382:microbiology; D017977:Deltaretrovirus / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics*; D005796:Genes; D005814:Genes, Viral; D014644:Genetic Variation; D006801:Humans; D010447:Peptide Hydrolases / Q000235:genetics*; D010802:Phylogeny; D012190:Retroviridae / Q000235:genetics; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins; D010447:Peptide Hydrolases