Neutron crystallography for investigation of catalytic mechanism of HIV-1 protease

Adachi, Motoyasu; Ohara, Takashi   ; Kurihara, Kazuo; Tamada, Taro; Honjo, Eijiro; Okazaki, Nobuo; Arai, Shigeki; Shoyama, Yoshinari; Kimura, Kaname*; Matsumura, Hiroyoshi*; Adachi, Hiroaki*; Takano, Kazufumi*; Mori, Yusuke*; Hidaka, Koshi*; Kimura, Toru*; Hayashi, Yoshio*; Kiso, Yoshiaki*; Kuroki, Ryota

HIV-1 protease is a dimeric aspartic protease that cleaves the nascent polyproteins of HIV-1 and plays an essential role in viral replication. To further understand the catalytic mechanism of HIV-1 protease, we have determined the crystal structure of HIV-1 protease in complex with a transition state mimetic tripeptide inhibitor, KNI-272 to 1.9 resolution by neutron crystallography in combination with 1.4 resolution X-ray diffraction data. Our results indicates that the carbonyl group of allophenylnorstatine in KNI-272 forms a significant hydrogen bond with protonated Asp 25, and the hydrogen atom from the hydroxyl group of Apns forms a remarkable hydrogen bond with the deprotonated Asp125. These results show direct evidence that Asp25 provides a proton to carbonyl group of substrate and Asp125 contributes to activate the attacking water molecule as a nucleophile.