X-ray crystal structure of HIV-1 Vpr (red) in complex with uracil DNA glycosylase 2 (UNG2, green) and the Cul4-DCAF1 E3 ligase, comprising DDB1- and CUL4-associated factor 1 (DCAF1, blue), damage-specific DNA binding protein 1 (DDB1, orange), and Cullin4 (CUL4, gray).
Principal investigators: Angela Gronenborn, Ph.D., University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and Tatyana Polenova, University of Delaware
The PCHPI is focused on structure determination and imaging of pivotal events that occur during viral particle maturation, post-entry events, nuclear entry and integration. The center applies proteomic approaches to identify novel HIV-interacting host proteins and integrates virological and biochemical approaches in the interrogation of these interactions with structural methodologies for understanding the viral-host interplay. Structural methodologies encompass solution and solid-state NMR spectroscopy, X-ray crystallography, cryo-electron microscopy, and MD simulations, with an emphasis on further developing novel approaches that advance the capabilities of these techniques.