Group-specific antigen

Group-specific antigen (Gag) is the genetic material that codes for the core structural proteins of a retrovirus.

It comprises part of the gag-onc fusion protein.

Gag in HIV
Gag proteins are encoded by the gag gene, and provide structural elements of the virus.

p24
p24 makes up the viral capsid.

When a Western blot test is used to detect HIV infection, p24 is one of the three major proteins tested for, along with gp120/gp160 and gp41.

p6, p7, and p17
p6 and p7 provide the nucleocapsid.

p17 provides a protective matrix (a protein that forms a scaffold during virion assembly).