Active site cavity of herpesvirus proteases revealed by the crystal structure of herpes simplex virus protease/inhibitor complex.
Hoog, S.S., Smith, W.W., Qiu, X., Janson, C.A., Hellmig, B., McQueney, M.S., O'Donnell, K., O'Shannessy, D., DiLella, A.G., Debouck, C., Abdel-Meguid, S.S.(1997) Biochemistry 36: 14023-14029
- PubMed: 9369473 
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.1021/bi9712697
- Primary Citation of Related Structures:  
1AT3 - PubMed Abstract: 
Human herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) and type 2 (HSV-2) are responsible for herpes labialis (cold sores) and genital herpes, respectively. They encode a serine protease that is required for viral replication, and represent a viable target for therapeutic intervention. Here, we report the crystal structures of HSV-1 and HSV-2 proteases, the latter in the presence and absence of the covalently bound transition state analog inhibitor diisopropyl phosphate (DIP). The HSV-1 and HSV-2 protease structures show a fold that is neither like chymotrypsin nor like subtilisin, and has been seen only in the recently determined cytomegalovirus (CMV) and varicella-zoster virus (VZV) protease structures. HSV-1 and HSV-2 proteases share high sequence homology and have almost identical three-dimensional structures. However, structural differences are observed with the less homologous CMV protease, offering a structural basis for herpes virus protease ligand specificity. The bound inhibitor identifies the oxyanion hole of these enzymes and defines the active site cavity.
Organizational Affiliation: 
Department of Macromolecular Sciences, SmithKline Beecham Pharmaceuticals, King of Prussia, Pennsylvania 19406, USA.