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Updated: Jun 7, 2026

Visualization of HIV-1 Gag Binding to Giant Unilamellar Vesicle (GUV) Membranes
Published on: July 28, 2016
The initial step in human immunodeficiency virus type 1 GagProPol processing can be regulated by reversible oxidation
Sarah I Daniels1, David A Davis, Erin E Soule
1HIV and AIDS Malignancy Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America.
Reversible oxidation of HIV-1 protease cysteines in GagProPol precursors inhibits viral maturation. This process can be reversed, offering a potential regulatory mechanism for retroviral processing and maturation.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Molecular Biology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- HIV-1 maturation relies on protease activation and polyprotein cleavage.
- Oxidation can regulate protease activity and viral maturation.
- The impact of oxidation on initial GagProPol cleavage is not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effect of reversible oxidation on the initial GagProPol cleavage event.
- To develop a system for studying the early stages of protease activation in HIV-1.
Main Methods:
- Created a GagProPol plasmid construct (pGPfs-1C) with specific cleavage site mutations.
- Utilized an in vitro translation assay to observe initial GagProPol processing.
- Applied diamide (oxidizing agent) and dithiothreitol (reductant) to assess oxidation effects.
Main Results:
- Diamide inhibited p2/NC cleavage by over 60%, which was reversible.
- Oxidation-induced inhibition was dependent on protease cysteines.
- Both cysteines in the embedded protease, unlike Cys95 in mature protease, contributed to inhibition.
Conclusions:
- Developed a system to study the initial GagProPol processing step.
- Demonstrated that reversible cysteine oxidation of embedded HIV-1 protease blocks autoprocessing.
- This regulatory mechanism may be applicable to other retroviruses.
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