Crystallization of the aspartylprotease from the human immunodeficiency virus, HIV-1

J Biol Chem. 1989 Feb 5;264(4):1919-21.

Abstract

The aspartylprotease of the human immunodeficiency virus HIV-1 (NY5) has been crystallized in a form suitable for x-ray diffraction analysis. The crystals are tetragonal bipyramids and produce an x-ray diffraction pattern that exhibits the symmetry associated with space group P4(1)2(1)2 (or its enantiomorph, P4(3)2(1)2). The unit cell parameters are a = b = 50.3 A, c = 106.8 A, alpha = beta = gamma = 90 degrees; measurable diffraction intensities are observed to a resolution of 2.5 A. Density measurements indicate one molecule of 9,400 daltons/asymmetric unit. The symmetry of this space group could accommodate the proposed active dimer species of the protease if the 2-fold axis were coincident with one of the crystallographic 2-fold axes.

MeSH terms

  • Aspartic Acid Endopeptidases
  • Chromatography, Ion Exchange
  • Crystallization
  • Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel
  • Endopeptidases / isolation & purification*
  • HIV-1 / enzymology*
  • Molecular Weight
  • X-Ray Diffraction

Substances

  • Endopeptidases
  • Aspartic Acid Endopeptidases