Exploring Human and HIV Protein Interactions Through Biophysical Modeling
Faculty Mentor Information
Paul A. Rowley PhD, F. Marty Ytreberg PhD
Abstract
HIV is a major concern for global health, and during infection it interacts with a wide array of human proteins. One of these is the nucleoporin 153 that interacts with viral capsid proteins and is vital for entry into the cellular nucleus. Nucleoporin 153 is naturally polymorphic in humans which may disrupt its interactions with HIV. For this study, molecular simulations are used to predict how the variation in nucleoporin 153 affects binding with the HIV capsid. A yeast two-hybrid assay will be used to experimentally validate our predictions. This system provides a method for computationally predicting and validating changes in protein-protein interactions and will lead to better understanding of the mechanisms of HIV infection and disease.
Exploring Human and HIV Protein Interactions Through Biophysical Modeling
HIV is a major concern for global health, and during infection it interacts with a wide array of human proteins. One of these is the nucleoporin 153 that interacts with viral capsid proteins and is vital for entry into the cellular nucleus. Nucleoporin 153 is naturally polymorphic in humans which may disrupt its interactions with HIV. For this study, molecular simulations are used to predict how the variation in nucleoporin 153 affects binding with the HIV capsid. A yeast two-hybrid assay will be used to experimentally validate our predictions. This system provides a method for computationally predicting and validating changes in protein-protein interactions and will lead to better understanding of the mechanisms of HIV infection and disease.