Crystal structure of chemically synthesized HIV-1 protease and a ketomethylene isostere inhibitor based on the p2/NC cleavage site
Torbeev, V.Y., Mandal, K., Terechko, V.A., Kent, S.B.H.(2008) Bioorg Med Chem Lett 18: 4554-4557
- PubMed: 18657969 
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bmcl.2008.07.039
- Primary Citation of Related Structures:  
3DCK, 3DCR - PubMed Abstract: 
Here we report the X-ray structures of chemically synthesized HIV-1 protease and the inactive [D25N]HIV-1 protease complexed with the ketomethylene isostere inhibitor Ac-Thr-Ile-Nle psi[CO-CH(2)]Nle-Gln-Arg.amide at 1.4 and 1.8A resolution, respectively. In complex with the active enzyme, the keto-group was found to be converted into the hydrated gem-diol, while the structure of the complex with the inactive D25N enzyme revealed an intact keto-group. These data support the general acid-general base mechanism for HIV-1 protease catalysis.
Organizational Affiliation: 
Institute for Biophysical Dynamics, The University of Chicago, 929 East 57th Street, Chicago, IL 60637, USA. torbeev@uchicago.edu