Antiviral compounds modulate elasticity, strength and material fatigue of a virus capsid framework.

ABSTRACT: This study investigates whether the biochemical and antiviral effects of organic compounds that bind different sites in the mature human immunodeficiency virus capsid may be related to the modulation of different mechanical properties of the protein lattice from which the capsid is built. Mechanical force was used as a probe to quantify, in atomic force microscopy experiments at physiological pH and ionic strength, ligand-mediated changes in capsid lattice elasticity, breathing, strength against local dislocation by mechanical stress, and resistance to material fatigue. The results indicate that the effects of the tested compounds on assembly or biochemical stability can be linked, from a physics-based perspective, to their interference with the mechanical behavior of the viral capsid fram

SUBMITTER: Dominguez-Zotes S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8943814 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature