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Updated: Apr 11, 2026

Assessment of Immunologically Relevant Dynamic Tertiary Structural Features of the HIV-1 V3 Loop Crown R2 Sequence by ab initio Folding
Published on: September 15, 2010
Asymmetric conformational maturation of HIV-1 reverse transcriptase
Xunhai Zheng1, Lalith Perera1, Geoffrey A Mueller1
1Genome Integrity and Structural Biology Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Research Triangle Park, United States.
HIV-1 reverse transcriptase (RT) uses a flexible domain that changes shape for different functions. This study reveals the complex folding and maturation process of RT, crucial for its activity.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Structural Biology
- Virology
Background:
- HIV-1 reverse transcriptase (RT) possesses a metamorphic polymerase domain, adopting dual structures for catalytic and structural roles.
- This structural plasticity minimizes coding requirements but presents folding challenges during maturation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the conformational maturation process of HIV-1 RT.
- To elucidate the temporal dynamics of structural changes during RT assembly.
Main Methods:
- Utilized Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectroscopy on methyl-labeled RT to study slow conformational changes.
- Employed molecular dynamics (MD) simulations to analyze rapid conformational processes.
Main Results:
- Observed a unimolecular isomerization of the p66 precursor to an active-like conformation, exposing hydrophobic surfaces for homodimer formation.
- Characterized the p66/p66' homodimer as a conformational heterodimer with subsequent multi-timescale adjustments.
- Identified early formation of the RH:thumb' interface and slow, linked maturation of connection' and unfolding of RH' domains.
Conclusions:
- The conformational maturation of HIV-1 RT is a complex, multi-step process involving distinct time scales.
- Understanding RT maturation provides insights into its functional mechanisms and potential therapeutic targets.
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