HIV-2 gag
Protein is >90% pure as determined by 10% PAGE (coomassie staining).
Description
Recombinant HIV-2 gag produced in E. coli containing a total of 231 amino acids and having a Mw of 24kDa. Recombinant HIV-2 gag may appear as a dimer on SDS-PAGE gel and is purified by proprietary chromatographic technique.
Product Specs
Product Science Overview
The Human Immunodeficiency Virus type 2 (HIV-2) is one of the two types of HIV, the other being HIV-1. While HIV-1 is more prevalent globally, HIV-2 is primarily found in West Africa. The Gag protein is a crucial component of the HIV-2 virus, playing a significant role in the virus’s structure and replication process. Recombinant Gag proteins are often used in research to study the virus and develop diagnostic tests and vaccines.
The Gag protein of HIV-2 is a polyprotein that is processed into several smaller proteins, including the matrix (MA), capsid (CA), nucleocapsid (NC), and p6 proteins. These proteins are essential for the assembly and maturation of the virus. The Gag protein is responsible for the formation of virus-like particles (VLPs), which are used in various research applications .
Recombinant Gag proteins are produced using genetic engineering techniques. The gene encoding the Gag protein is inserted into a suitable expression system, such as Escherichia coli (E. coli), to produce the protein in large quantities. These recombinant proteins are often tagged with other proteins, such as glutathione S-transferase (GST), to facilitate their purification and study .
- Virus-Like Particles (VLPs): Recombinant Gag proteins are used to generate VLPs, which mimic the structure of the virus but are non-infectious. These VLPs are valuable tools for studying the assembly and maturation of the virus and for developing diagnostic tests and vaccines .
- Diagnostic Tests: The p24 antigen, a component of the Gag protein, is a target for diagnostic tests that detect HIV infection. Recombinant Gag proteins are used to evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of these tests .
- Vaccine Development: Recombinant Gag proteins are also used in the development of vaccines. By studying the immune response to these proteins, researchers can design vaccines that elicit a strong and protective immune response .
