Clustering of HIV-1 Subtypes Based on gp120 V3 Loop electrostatic properties.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The V3 loop of the glycoprotein gp120 of HIV-1 plays an important role in viral entry into cells by utilizing as coreceptor CCR5 or CXCR4, and is implicated in the phenotypic tropisms of HIV viruses. It has been hypothesized that the interaction between the V3 loop and CCR5 or CXCR4 is mediated by electrostatics. We have performed hierarchical clustering analysis of the spatial distributions of electrostatic potentials and charges of V3 loop structures containing consensus sequences of HIV-1 subtypes.

Results

Although the majority of consensus sequences have a net charge of +3, the spatial distribution of their electrostatic potentials and charges may be a discriminating factor for binding and infectivity. This is demonstrated by the formation of several small sub

SUBMITTER: Lopez de Victoria A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3295656 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature