The isolated major homology region of the HIV capsid protein is mainly unfolded in solution and binds to the intact protein

Assembly of the mature human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) capsid involves the oligomerization of the capsid protein, CA. During retroviral maturation, the CA protein undergoes structural changes and forms exclusive intermolecular interfaces in the mature capsid shell, different from those in the immature precursor. The most conserved region of CA, the major homology region (MHR), is located in the C-terminal domain of CA (CTD). The MHR is involved in both immature and mature virus assembly; however, its exact function during both assembly stages is unknown. To test its conformational preferences and to provide clues on its role during CA assembly, we have used a minimalist approach by designing a peptide comprising the whole MHR (MHRpep, residues Asp152 to Ala174). Isolated MHRpep is mainly unfolded in aqueous solution, with residual structure at its C terminus. MHRpep binds to monomeric CTD with an affinity of ~ 30 μM (as shown by fluorescence and ITC); the CTD binding region comprises residues belonging to α-helices 10 and 11. In the immature virus capsid, the MHR and α-helix 11 regions of two CTD dimers also interact [Briggs JAG, Riches JD, Glass B, Baratonova V, Zanetti G and Kräusslich H-G (2009) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 106, 11090–11095]. These results can be considered a proof-of-concept that the conformational preferences and binding features of isolated peptides derived from virus proteins could be used to mimic early stages of virus assembly.

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► The isolated MHR from HIV-1 in aqueous solution is mainly disordered.
► MHR binds to the C-terminal domain (CTD) of the capsid protein with KL ~ 30 μM.
► The CTD region involved in MHR binding is formed by α-helices 10 and 11.
► In the immature capsid, α-helix 11 and the MHR of two CTD molecules interact.
► Peptide binding could be a model of the early stages of viral assembly.