Antigenic and 3D structural characterization of soluble X4 and hybrid X4-R5 HIV-1 Env trimers.

ABSTRACT:

Background

HIV-1 is decorated with trimeric glycoprotein spikes that enable infection by engaging CD4 and a chemokine coreceptor, either CCR5 or CXCR4. The variable loop 3 (V3) of the HIV-1 envelope protein (Env) is the main determinant for coreceptor usage. The predominant CCR5 using (R5) HIV-1 Env has been intensively studied in function and structure, whereas the trimeric architecture of the less frequent, but more cytopathic CXCR4 using (X4) HIV-1 Env is largely unknown, as are the consequences of sequence changes in and near V3 on antigenicity and trimeric Env structure.

Results

Soluble trimeric gp140 Env constructs were used as immunogenic mimics of the native spikes to analyze their antigenic properties in the context of their overall 3D structure. We generated solubl

SUBMITTER: Arnold P 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4048260 | biostudies-literature | 2014 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature