Product Overview:
HIV-1 Gag p15 is processed by the digestion of its precursor Gag p55 by HIV-1 protease. This protein is further digested into nuclocapsid protein p7 and into p6 and p1 of unknown function. This digestion is promoted by the binding of HIV-1 genome RNA and the two Zn finger motifs that exist in the p7 region. The produced nucleocapsid protein p7 regulates the RNA function by directly binding to HIV-1 genome RNA. The product is prepared by immunizing rabbit with recombinant p15 protein which was over-expressed in E. coli with a plasmid carrying the Gag p15 coding region of HIV-1 virus, and highly purified by several steps of chromatography. Using this antiserum in Western blotting, the band of 15 kD corresponding to HIV-1 p15 was observed in the extract of the AIDS virus infected cells.