Isolate-specific differences in the conformational dynamics and antigenicity of HIV-1 gp120.

ABSTRACT: The HIV-1 envelope glycoprotein (Env) mediates viral entry into host cells and is the sole target of neutralizing antibodies. Much of the sequence diversity in the HIV-1 genome is concentrated within Env, particularly within its gp120 surface subunit. While dramatic functional diversity exists among HIV-1 Env isolates-observable even in the context of monomeric gp120 proteins as differences in antigenicity and immunogenicity-we have little understanding of the structural features that distinguish Env isolates and lead to isolate-specific functional differences, as crystal structures of truncated gp120 "core" proteins from diverse isolates reveal a high level of structural conservation. Because gp120 proteins are used as prospective vaccine immunogens, it is critical to understand the struc

SUBMITTER: Davenport TM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3807424 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature