Q. What is the action mechanism of the antiretroviral drugs known protease inhibitors which are used against HIV infection?
Protease inhibitors are some of the antiretroviral drugs used to take cure of HIV infection. Protease is an enzyme necessary for the assembling of HIV subsequent to the synthesis of its proteins within the host cell. The protease inhibitor binds to the activation center of the enzyme blocking the formation of the enzyme-substrate complex and the enzyme activity thus impairing the viral replication.