title: Secondary structure and structure-activity relationships of peptides corresponding to the subunit interface of herpes simplex virus DNA polymerase.
abstract: The interaction of the catalytic subunit of herpes simplex virus DNA polymerase with the processivity subunit, UL42, is essential for viral replication and is thus a potential target for antiviral drug discovery. We have previously reported that a peptide analogous to the C-terminal 36 residues of the catalytic subunit, which are necessary and sufficient for its interaction with UL42, forms a monomeric structure with partial alpha-helical character. This peptide and one analogous to the C-terminal 18 residues specifically inhibit UL42-dependent long chain DNA synthesis. Using multidimensional (1)H nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, we have found that the 36-residue peptide contains partially ordered N- and C-terminal alpha-helices separated by a less ordered region. A series of "alanine scan" peptides derived from the C-terminal 18 residues of the catalytic subunit were tested for their ability to inhibit long-chain DNA synthesis and by circular dichroism for secondary structure. The results identify structural aspects and specific side chains that appear to be crucial for interacting with UL42. These findings may aid in the rational design of new drugs for the treatment of herpesvirus infections.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Chemistry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA.
authors.forename: K G
authors.initials: KG
authors.lastname: Bridges
authors.forename: Q
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Hua
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Brigham-Burke
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Martin
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Hensley
authors.forename: C E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Dahl
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Digard
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Weiss
authors.forename: D M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Coen
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D003080:Cold Temperature; D004259:DNA-Directed DNA Polymerase / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D005090:Exodeoxyribonucleases; D018259:Herpesvirus 1, Human / Q000201:enzymology*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D019906:Nuclear Magnetic Resonance, Biomolecular; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D011485:Protein Binding; D017433:Protein Structure, Secondary; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship; D014461:Ultracentrifugation; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D010446:Peptide Fragments; D014764:Viral Proteins; D004259:DNA-Directed DNA Polymerase; D005090:Exodeoxyribonucleases; C043417:DNA polymerase, Simplexvirus