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Publication Details
AFRICAN RESEARCH NEXUS
SHINING A SPOTLIGHT ON AFRICAN RESEARCH
biochemistry, genetics and molecular biology
Structural insights into the South African HIV-1 subtype C protease: Impact of hinge region dynamics and flap flexibility in drug resistance
Journal of Biomolecular Structure and Dynamics, Volume 31, No. 12, Year 2013
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Description
The HIV protease plays a major role in the life cycle of the virus and has long been a target in antiviral therapy. Resistance of HIV protease to protease inhibitors (PIs) is problematic for the effective treatment of HIV infection. The South African HIV-1 subtype C protease (C-SA PR), which contains eight polymorphisms relative to the consensus HIV-1 subtype B protease, was expressed in Escherichia coli, purified, and crystallized. The crystal structure of the C-SA PR was resolved at 2.7 Å, which is the first crystal structure of a HIV-1 subtype C protease that predominates in Africa. Structural analyses of the C-SA PR in comparison to HIV-1 subtype B proteases indicated that polymorphisms at position 36 of the homodimeric HIV-1 protease may impact on the stability of the hinge region of the protease, and hence the dynamics of the flap region. Molecular dynamics simulations showed that the flap region of the C-SA PR displays a wider range of movements over time as compared to the subtype B proteases. Reduced stability in the hinge region resulting from the absent E35-R57 salt bridge in the C-SA PR, most likely contributes to the increased flexibility of the flaps which may be associated with reduced susceptibility to PIs. © 2013 Taylor & Francis.
Authors & Co-Authors
Naicker, Previn
South Africa, Johannesburg
University of the Witwatersrand
Achilonu, Ikechukwu Anthony
South Africa, Johannesburg
University of the Witwatersrand
Fanucchi, Sylvia
South Africa, Johannesburg
University of the Witwatersrand
Fernandes, Manuel A.
South Africa, Johannesburg
University of the Witwatersrand
Ibrahim, Mahmoud A.A.
United Kingdom, Manchester
The University of Manchester
Egypt, Minya
Faculty of Science
Dirr, Heini W.
South Africa, Johannesburg
University of the Witwatersrand
Soliman, Mahmoud E.S.
South Africa, Durban
University of Kwazulu-natal
Egypt, Zagazig
Faculty of Pharmacy
Sayed, Yasien
South Africa, Johannesburg
University of the Witwatersrand
Statistics
Citations: 44
Authors: 8
Affiliations: 5
Identifiers
Doi:
10.1080/07391102.2012.736774
ISSN:
07391102
e-ISSN:
15380254
Research Areas
Infectious Diseases