HIV/AIDS Glossary

A major HIV gene that encodes the Pol polyprotein (a long protein chain). The Pol polyprotein is broken down into four HIV enzymes: reverse transcriptase (RT), protease, RNAse H, and integrase. In addition to referring to the gene, Pol can also refer to the enzymes produced by the gene. Pol enzymes are important for HIV reverse transcription, integration, budding, and maturation.