Structures of HIV-1 reverse transcriptase with pre- and post-translocation AZTMP-terminated DNA.
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Sarafianos SG, Clark AD Jr, Das K, Tuske S, Birktoft JJ, Ilankumaran P, Ramesha AR, Sayer JM, Jerina DM, Boyer PL, Hughes SH, Arnold E
Structures of HIV-1 reverse transcriptase with pre- and post-translocation AZTMP-terminated DNA.
EMBO J. 2002 Dec 2;21(23):6614-24.
- PubMed ID
- 12456667 [ View in PubMed]
- Abstract
AZT (3'-azido-3'-deoxythymidine) resistance involves the enhanced excision of AZTMP from the end of the primer strand by HIV-1 reverse transcriptase. This reaction can occur when an AZTMP-terminated primer is bound at the nucleotide-binding site (pre-translocation complex N) but not at the 'priming' site (post-translocation complex P). We determined the crystal structures of N and P complexes at 3.0 and 3.1 A resolution. These structures provide insight into the structural basis of AZTMP excision and the mechanism of translocation. Docking of a dNTP in the P complex structure suggests steric crowding in forming a stable ternary complex that should increase the relative amount of the N complex, which is the substrate for excision. Structural differences between complexes N and P suggest that the conserved YMDD loop is involved in translocation, acting as a springboard that helps to propel the primer terminus from the N to the P site after dNMP incorporation.