Sandbox 645

HIV-1 Protease

spinqualitylabelsall models Structure of HIV-1 Protease (PDB entry 2nmz) Show:Asymmetric Unit Biological Assembly Drag the structure with the mouse to rotate   Export Animated Image   Print3D Human Immunodeficiency Virus-1 Protease Introduction HIV -1 protease (HIV PR ) is a retroviral aspartyl protease that is derived from HIV-1, a lentivirus that is best characterized for its ability to lower host immunity by infecting CD4+ T lymphocytes, macrophages, and dendritic cells. Aspartyl proteases are protease enzymes that utilize aspartate residue(s) for the catalysis of peptide substrates. Eukaryotic forms of these proteases include the pepsins, cathepsins and renins. While they have a two-domain structure, the retroviral aspartyl proteases are much smaller and homologous to a single domain of the eukaryotic aspartic proteases. HIV-1 protease is essential for the life cycle of HIV. The protease takes newly synthesized polyproteins and cleaves them by means of a hydrolysis reaction into the smaller mature protein components of the HIV virion. These proteins are used to form the virion capsid that encases the viral genome. Effectively inhibiting HIV-1 protease will result in the inability for HIV to propagate as it will no longer have the ability to form complete virion units to infect new cells. The HIV PR, together with single stranded RNA (ssRNA), reverse transcriptase, integrase, and other viral factors, is found inside the HIV-1 virion. Structure & Function Structure of HIV-1 Protease Unlike most members of the aspartyl protease class, which generally exist as two domain monomers, HIV protease is a dimmer with two identical subunits that are comprised of 99 amino acids. The X-ray structure of HIV-1 protease reveals that it is composed of two symmetrically related subunits, each consisting of 99 amino acid residues. The subunits come together in such as way as to form a tunnel where they meet. This tunnel is of critical importance because the active site of the protease is located in its interior. The active site consists of two Asp-Thr-Gly conserved sequences, making it a member of the aspartyl protease family. The two Asp's are essential catalytic residues that activate a water molecule to hydrolytically cleave the polyprotein that binds in the tunnel. You may be wondering how a polyprotein makes its way into the active-site tunnel, as the tunnel appears to be too narrow to admit it. The key is the two flexible flaps on the top of the tunnel that move to allow proteins to enter the tunnel. The flaps undergo a dramatic movement, shifting from an open to a closed conformation to bind the target in an appropriate conformation for cleavage. Function of HIV-1 Protease Mechanism Mechanism for HIV-1 Protease The mechanism most commonly accepted for the aspartyl proteases is a general acid-base mechanism involving the coordination of a water molecule between the two highly conserved aspartate residues which leads to hydrolysis. One of the aspartate residues induces activation of the water molecule by removing one of the protons. This allows the nucleophilic oxygen to attack the carbonyl carbon of the peptide and form a tetrahedral oxyanion intermediate. Rearrangement leads to the protonation of the scissile amide and thus cleavage. Applications & Research APPLICATIONS: There currently is no cure or vaccine against HIV. Researchers, however, have discovered treatments that can halt and even reverse the progression of AIDS, due in large part to our understanding of the structure of HIV-1 protease. Saquinavir (Invirase) was the first protease inhibitor approved by the FDA for the treatment of HIV. It inhibits HIV protease by binding tightly in the active site tunnel, preventing the binding of polyproteins. Its chemical structure mimics the tetrahedral intermediate of the hydrolytic reaction, thereby interacting strongly with the catalytic Asp residues. Saquinavir is essentially an uncleavable ligand, as indicated by the similar conformational changes in the protease flaps on binding saquinavir or a polypeptide . Other drugs used to treat HIV infection that inhibit HIV protease include Indinavir (Crixivan), Ritonavir (Norvir), and Nelfinavir (Viracept). When a HIV virus infects an organism it tends to multiply within the body’s cells. The virus is then released to infect other cells. In this manner, the infection of HIV infects the newly made cells of the body. While the viruses are produced, proteins and enzymes used to manufacture the DNA in addition to other components of the virus are made. In this case, protease is that enzyme that is needed to bring the structural and enzymes of the virus together. Protease drugs are what could inhibit this virus. Design of a HIV-1 Protease inhibitor - Free-energy parameterization of enzyme-inhibitor binding. Based on the crystal structure data and protein receptor ligand complexes studied, interatomic interactions that work on burying atoms and find the statistical preference for amino acid pairs. A free energy model of the receptor-ligand is formulated and helps in showing the interfacial interactions. The interaction strength of this model has a reliability of ±1.5 kcal/mol, which reveals the importance of atomic interaction to stabilize the receptor-ligand interface. The analysis of a binding motif of HIV-1 protease inhibitor complex shows the important contacts instead of the set of atoms. HIV Drugs: Saquinavir mesylate is a white to off-white, very fine powder with an aqueous solubility of 2.22 mg/mL at 25°C. 1) Saquinavir (Invirase) is known to be one of the first FDA approved protease inhibitor for HIV treatment. This usually occurs by HIV protease binding an active site tunnel tightly, which will prevent polyproteins from also binding. HIV’s chemical structure has the ability to mimic the tetrahedral intermediate of the hydrolytic reaction to interact strong with the catalytic Asp residues. Saquinavir mesylate is a white to off-white, very fine powder with an aqueous solubility of 2.22 mg/mL at 25°C. Knowing that, Saquinavir is an uncleavable ligand by studying its similar conformational changes in binding saquinavir or a polypeptide. ((https://www.rxlist.com/invirase-drug.htm)))) Two types of mutants can result as a way of depleting the effectiveness of the saquinavir drug. These mutants are G48V and G48V/L90M. They cause 13.5 and 149 fold reductions, respectively. Based on some quantum mechanical and molecular mechanical analysis of the interaction of the saquinavir interaction; a disturbance of the saquinavir with the mutant with a flap residue 48 leads to a change in the hydrogen bonding. This mutation leads to the loss in the inhibitor/ enzyme binding. 2) Indinavir (Crixivan) this protease inhibitor is an oral medication that blocks the protease activity and leads to defect the viruses. Once these viruses are unable to reach the body’s cells, it will decrease in number Ritonavir has a molecular weight of 711.88. It is very soluble in water and in methanol. This inhibitor doesn’t have the ability to prevent the HIV transmission among individuals, nor does it cure AIDS or HIV infection. Indinavir is approved by the FDA in March 1995. ((((https://www.medicinenet.com/indinavir/article.htm ))) 3) Ritonavir (Norvir), has the same effect of indinavir on HIV protease. It was approved by the FDA in June 1999. This drug consists of capsules or tablets 100 mg; Solution: 80 mg/ml. It is recommended that adults consume 600 mg twice a day and then increase by 100 mg in every 2 days. Ritonavir is soluble in isopropanol and practically insoluble in water. Ritonavir can interact with many drugs leading those drugs to increase or decrease in effectiveness. It increases the concentration of Mycobutin and Viagra; however, decrease the concentration of Demerol. ((((https://www.medicinenet.com/ritonavir/article.htm)))) 4) Nelfinavir (Viracept), Nelfinavir was approved by the FDA in March, 1997. Nelfinavir has not been effectively evaluated in pregnant women. Viracept prevents T-cells that have been infected with HIV from producing new HIV. Nelfinavir is slightly soluble in water at pH ≤ 4 and completely soluble in methanol. Usually given to patients through tablets. Each tablet contains inactive ingredients such as: calcium silicate, magnesium stearate, hypromellose, and triacetin. ( Picture ) https://www.rxlist.com/viracept-drug.htm ((https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001007/))