HIV protease belongs to the aspartic protease family and is responsible for cleaving viral precursor proteins to form mature viral particles. This protease consists of two identical subunits, forming a symmetric dimeric structure. It primarily localizes in the cytoplasm of infected cells and participates in the late stage of the HIV replication cycle, particularly in virus assembly and maturation processes. The activity of HIV protease is crucial for the infectivity of the virus, making it an important target in antiretroviral therapy. At the genetic level, specific expression patterns and mutations in the HIV protease gene can lead to drug resistance, posing challenges for the development and adjustment of HIV treatment strategies.