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HIV-1 protease-substrate coevolution in nelfinavir resistance
Madhavi Kolli1, Ayşegül Ozen1, Nese Kurt-Yilmaz1
1Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA.
HIV-1 protease mutations cause drug resistance. Coevolving Gag cleavage sites with protease mutations help the virus maintain function, restoring substrate recognition and cleavage despite drug resistance.
Area of Science:
- Structural biology
- Virology
- Drug resistance
Background:
- Protease inhibitors (PIs) are crucial for treating HIV-1 infection.
- Mutations in HIV-1 protease (PR) lead to resistance, reducing PI efficacy.
- Gag sequence mutations can coevolve with PR mutations, impacting viral fitness and drug resistance.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the structural basis of coevolution between the Gag p1-p6 cleavage site and nelfinavir (NFV) resistance mutations (D30N/N88D) in HIV-1 protease.
- To understand how coevolutionary changes in cleavage sites compensate for mutations conferring drug resistance.
Main Methods:
- Determined crystal structures of wild-type and NFV-resistant HIV-1 protease.
- Complexed proteases with p1-p6 substrate peptide variants containing L449F and/or S451N mutations.
- Analyzed structural interactions between protease and substrate variants.
Main Results:
- NFV resistance mutations (D30N/N88D) alter interactions at the p1-p6 cleavage site.
- Coevolving mutations (L449F, S451N) at the cleavage site compensate for altered protease-substrate interactions.
- These interdependent interactions enhance binding and substrate fit, maintaining cleavage efficiency.
Conclusions:
- Coevolution between HIV-1 protease resistance mutations and Gag cleavage site mutations restores substrate recognition and cleavage.
- This mechanism allows the virus to maintain fitness and function despite drug pressure.
- Structural insights into these coevolutionary dynamics are vital for developing next-generation HIV therapies.
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