Question

Why are mutations at D185, D186 and D110 are so detrimental to RT activity?

Answer 1

An active site of an enzyme RT activities ( DNA polymerase and RNAse H) are compleately limited within p66 subunit. Active site of a polymerase explained by group of three aspartate residues that are D110, D185, D186 and different proximal residues participated in close assosciation with the bound substrate of dNTP (K65, R72, Y115, Q151). For the activity of an enzyme aspartate is important, therefore mutation occurs in any of these three group compleately removes activity of RT DNA polymerase. Aspartates mutation destroy the catalytic function RT and infectivity of virus.