Crystal structure of lysine sulfonamide inhibitor reveals the displacement of the conserved flap water molecule in human immunodeficiency virus type 1 protease

J Virol. 2007 Sep;81(17):9512-8. doi: 10.1128/JVI.00799-07. Epub 2007 Jun 27.

Abstract

Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) protease has been continuously evolving and developing resistance to all of the protease inhibitors. This requires the development of new inhibitors that bind to the protease in a novel fashion. Most of the inhibitors that are on the market are peptidomimetics, where a conserved water molecule mediates hydrogen bonding interactions between the inhibitors and the flaps of the protease. Recently a new class of inhibitors, lysine sulfonamides, was developed to combat the resistant variants of HIV protease. Here we report the crystal structure of a lysine sulfonamide. This inhibitor binds to the active site of HIV-1 protease in a novel manner, displacing the conserved water and making extensive hydrogen bonds with every region of the active site.

MeSH terms

  • Binding Sites
  • Crystallography, X-Ray
  • HIV Protease / chemistry*
  • HIV Protease / metabolism
  • HIV Protease Inhibitors / chemistry*
  • HIV Protease Inhibitors / metabolism
  • Models, Molecular
  • Protein Structure, Tertiary
  • Sulfonamides / chemistry*
  • Sulfonamides / metabolism

Substances

  • HIV Protease Inhibitors
  • Sulfonamides
  • HIV Protease