biostudies-literatureJaskolski MIntramural NIH HHSNational Cancer Institute4059-66https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC6310002biostudies-literatureUnknown282(21)Determinations of only a very few protein structures had consequences comparable to the impact exerted by the structure of the protease encoded by HIV-1, published just over 25 years ago. The structure of this relatively small protein and its cousins from other retroviruses provided a clear target for a spectacularly successful structure-assisted drug design effort that offered new hope for controlling the then-escalating AIDS epidemic. This reminiscence is limited primarily to work conducted at the National Cancer Institute, and is not meant to be a comprehensive history of the field, but is rather an attempt to provide a very personal account of how the structures of this most thoroughly studied crystallographic target were determined.The FEBS journalElucidation of the structure of retroviral proteases: a reminiscence.PMC6310002ZIA BC010348-15Jaskolski MMiller MWlodawer AMohana Rao JKGustchina AfalseElucidation of the structure of retroviral proteases: a reminiscence.Determinations of only a very few protein structures had consequences comparable to the impact exerted by the structure of the protease encoded by HIV-1, published just over 25 years ago. The structure of this relatively small protein and its cousins from other retroviruses provided a clear target for a spectacularly successful structure-assisted drug design effort that offered new hope for controlling the then-escalating AIDS epidemic. This reminiscence is limited primarily to work conducted at the National Cancer Institute, and is not meant to be a comprehensive history of the field, but is rather an attempt to provide a very personal account of how the structures of this most thoroughly studied crystallographic target were determined.2015-01-01T00:00:00Z2015 Nov2024-11-08T22:57:13.344Z2019-03-26T22:28:57ZS-EPMC63100022625848010.1111/febs.13397