Molecular analysis of the feline immunodeficiency virus protease: generation of a novel form of the protease by autoproteolysis and construction of cleavage-resistant proteases.
Published
Journal Article
The feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) protease is essential for virion maturation and subsequent viral replication in that it cleaves the Gag and Gag/Pol polyproteins at eight sites to release the respective structural proteins and enzymes. During purification of a recombinant FIV protease (PR), we noted that it underwent autoproteolysis (autolysis) to give discrete cleavage products. These additional PR cleavage sites were defined using N-terminal amino acid sequence analysis and mass spectrometry. Protease breakdown products were also found in FIV virions and were of the same apparent molecular weights as the in vitro autolysis products. Four primary PR autolysis sites were blocked via substitution of either the P1 amino acid with a beta-branched amino acid or the P1' amino acid with lysine. Cleavage-resistant PRs which had Km and k(cat) values similar to those of FIV PR were constructed. An autolysis time course determined that blocking all four primary autolysis sites yielded a cleavage-resistant PR which was enzymatically stable. Concomitant with autolysis is the generation of an N-terminally truncated form of the PR (Thr6/PR) which has enhanced stability with respect to that of FIV PR. A structural basis for the Thr6/PR activity is presented, as are the possible roles of autolysis in the viral replication cycle.
Full Text
Duke Authors
Cited Authors
- Laco, GS; Fitzgerald, MC; Morris, GM; Olson, AJ; Kent, SB; Elder, JH
Published Date
- July 1997
Published In
Volume / Issue
- 71 / 7
Start / End Page
- 5505 - 5511
PubMed ID
- 9188624
Pubmed Central ID
- 9188624
Electronic International Standard Serial Number (EISSN)
- 1098-5514
International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)
- 0022-538X
Language
- eng