Structural Basis of Why Nelfinavir-Resistant D30N Mutant of HIV-1 Protease Remains Susceptible to Saquinavir.
Prashar, V., Bihani, S.C., Ferrer, J.L., Hosur, M.V.(2015) Chem Biol Drug Des 86: 302-308
- PubMed: 25487655 
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/cbdd.12494
- Primary Citation of Related Structures:  
4Q5M - PubMed Abstract: 
Although anti-HIV-1 protease drugs nelfinavir (NFV) and saquinavir (SQV) share common functional groups, D30N is a major resistance mutation against NFV but remains susceptible to SQV. We have determined the crystal structure of D30N mutant-tethered HIV-1 protease in complex with SQV to 1.79 Å resolution. Structural analysis showed that SQV forms two direct hydrogen bonds with the main chain atoms of the residues Asp29 and Asp30 that are not observed in the D30N-NFV complex. Apart from maintaining these two main chain hydrogen bonds, the P2-asparagine of SQV forms an additional hydrogen bond to the mutated side chain of the residue 30. These could be the reasons why D30N is not a drug resistance mutation against SQV. This structure supports the previous studies showing that the interactions between a potential inhibitor and backbone atoms of the enzyme are important to maintain potency against drug-resistant HIV-1 protease.
Organizational Affiliation: 
Solid State Physics Division, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Trombay, Mumbai, 400085, India.