... on the surface of certain host cells (e.g., T-helper cells). The "stalk" that supports the knob is a transmembrane glycoprotein which may also play a role in attachment to host cells. RNA is like the construction boss. Cells use RNA to tell enzymes how to build a specific part of a cell. To make a new protein, enzymes will copy a specific part of the DNA (blueprint for building living cells) into a piece of RNA. This RNA is then used by other enzymes to build a new protein or enzyme. The virus enters into the cells and begins to integrate into the chromosomes of the cell. The HIV virus works like a foreign enemy agent, who infiltrates the bloodstream and sneaks past cells. HIV Life Cycle Step 1: Binding A virus consists of an outer envelope of protein, fat and sugar wrapped around a set of genes (in the case of ...

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