Molecular dynamics simulations study of pVHL–ElonginC–ElonginB complex and interaction with HIF1α. (A) Superimposition of wild-type (wt; grey) and mutated pVHL (green) is shown. The wt P138 (violet) and mutated L138 (green) sites and the critical active site residues for the HIF1α peptide (PDB:1LM8)-binding region are depicted. The P138L mutation perturbs pHIF1α interactions with pVHL because of the conformational effect on the W117 and S111 residues (orange) at 2.8 to 4.3 Å distance from mutated L138. (B) Detail superimposition of wt and P138L pVHL in the interaction with HIF1α.