Competitive inhibition of human immunodeficiency virus type-1 protease by the Gag-Pol transframe protein. |
| |
Authors: | C Paulus S Hellebrand U Tessmer H Wolf H G Kr?usslich R Wagner |
| |
Affiliation: | Institut für Medizinische Mikrobiologie und Hygiene, Universit?t Regensburg, Franz-Josef-Strauss-Allee 11, D-93053 Regensburg, Germany. |
| |
Abstract: | The human immunodeficiency virus type-1 (HIV-1) transframe protein p6* is located between the structural and enzymatic domains of the Gag-Pol polyprotein, flanked by the nucleocapsid (NC) and the protease (PR) domain at its amino and carboxyl termini, respectively. Here, we report that recombinant highly purified HIV-1 p6* specifically inhibits mature HIV-1 PR activity. Kinetic analyses and cross-linking experiments revealed a competitive mechanism for PR inhibition by p6*. We further demonstrate that the four carboxyl-terminal residues of p6* are essential but not sufficient for p6*-mediated inhibition of PR activity. Based on these results, we suggest a role of the transframe protein p6* in regulating HIV-1 PR activity during viral replication. |
| |
Keywords: | |
|
|