The Sound of Evolution
Saquinavir
Mechanism of action:
Saquinavir is an HIV protease inhibitor. The HIV protease is responsible for cleaving the viral precursor polyproteins Gag and Gag-Pol into functional structural proteins and enzymes. Saquinavir binds with high affinity to the active site of the protease and competitively inhibits its enzymatic activity, causing newly formed viral particles to remain immature and noninfectious.
Reference(s):
1. Forestier F et al. (2001). Maternal-fetal transfer of saquinavir studied in the ex vivo placental perfusion model. Am J Obstet Gynecol.
2. De Clercq E et al. (2009). The history of antiretrovirals: key discoveries over the past 25 years. Rev Med Virol.
3. Kupferschmidt HH et al. (1998). Grapefruit juice enhances the bioavailability of the HIV protease inhibitor saquinavir in man. Br J Clin Pharmacol.