Bonding Models and AIDS Drugs

• In 1989, researchers discovered the structure of HIV-protease, a protein synthesized by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), which causes AIDS.
• Researchers used bonding theories—models that predict how atoms bond together to form molecules—to simulate how potential drug molecules would interact with the HIV-protease molecule.
• The gold-colored structure on the computer screen is a representation of HIV-protease.
• The molecule shown in the center is Indinavir, a protease inhibitor.