A modification to heptad repeat 1 of gp41 improves yield and/or quality of soluble pre-fusion HIV-1 envelope glycoprotein trimers.

ABSTRACT: Native-like HIV-1 envelope glycoprotein (Env) trimers, exemplified by the SOSIP design, are widely used as immunogens, analytical antigens, and for structural studies. These vaccine research and development programs require trimers that are based on multiple HIV-1 genotypes. While a wide range of protein engineering strategies can produce SOSIP trimers from most Env gene sequences, there are still examples of trimers that are expressed only at impractically low yields or that are unstable. Accordingly, additional protein modifications aimed at overcoming such limitations need to be evaluated. Here, we describe a new heptad repeat 1 modification of gp41, known as dPG, that helps to further stabilize the gp41 component of prototypic and germline-targeting SOSIP trimers in the pre-fusion stat

SUBMITTER: Chaturbhuj DN 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12455988 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature