title: Inhibition of HIV protease by monoclonal antibodies.
abstract: The protease of HIV plays a critical role in the maturation of the infectious particles of the virus. The enzyme has therefore been extensively studied with the objective of developing therapeutics that inhibit viral proliferation. We have produced monoclonal antibodies specific for the HIV-1 protease, and selected those that inhibit enzyme function for use as probes to study the enzyme's activity and as an eventual aid for the development of potential inhibitors targeted to regions other than the active site. We have characterized two such mAbs, F11.2.32 and 1696, which have inhibition constants in the low nanomolar range and which recognize epitopes from different regions of the protease. The crystal structures of the two antibodies, both in the free state as well as complexes with peptide fragments corresponding to their respective epitopes, have been solved. The structural analyses, taken together with other functional data on the antibodies, suggest mechanisms of protease inhibition by these antibodies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gene Manipulation, Institute of Molecular Genetics, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Flemingovo nam. 6, Prague, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Rezacova
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Brynda
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fabry
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Horejsi
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Stouracova
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lescar
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Chitarra
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Riottot
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sedlacek
authors.forename: G A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Bentley
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015483:HIV Antibodies / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D016333:HIV Protease / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology*; D017320:HIV Protease Inhibitors / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology* / Q000494:pharmacology; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000201:enzymology / Q000276:immunology; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D051379:Mice; D008958:Models, Molecular; D015394:Molecular Structure; D011487:Protein Conformation
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D015483:HIV Antibodies; D017320:HIV Protease Inhibitors; D016333:HIV Protease