Structure of the Human Cytomegalovirus Protease Catalytic Domain Reveals a Novel Serine Protease Fold and Catalytic Triad

Proteolytic processing of capsid assembly protein precursors by herpesvirus proteases is essential for virion maturation. A 2.5 A crystal structure of the human cytomegalovirus protease catalytic domain has been determined by X-ray diffraction. The structure defines a new class of serine protease with respect to global-fold topology and has a catalytic triad consisting of Ser-132, His-63, and His-157 in contrast with the Ser-His-Asp triads found in other serine proteases. However, catalytic machinery for activating the serine nucleophile and stabilizing a tetrahedral transition state is oriented similarly to that for members of the trypsin-like and subtilisin-like serine protease families. Formation of the active dimer is mediated primarily by burying a helix of one protomer into a deep cleft in the protein surface of the other.