Document Type

Article

Publication Title

Journal of Virology

Publication Date

7-2002

Volume

76

Issue

14

Disciplines

Biology | Life Sciences

Abstract

The envelope glycoprotein complex (gp120-gp41) of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) promotes the fusion of viral and cellular membranes through formation of the fusion-active six-helix bundle in the gp41 ectodomain. This gp41 core structure consists of three C-terminal helices packed in an antiparallel manner into hydrophobic grooves on the surface of the N-terminal trimeric coiled coil. Alanine mutations that destabilize the N- and C-terminal interhelical packing interactions also reduce viral infectivity. Here we show that viruses bearing these mutations exhibit a marked potentiation of inhibition by peptides that make up the gp41 core. By contrast, these viruses are unchanged in their sensitivities to soluble CD4, the CXCR4 coreceptor ligand SDF-1alpha, and human anti-HIV immunoglobulin, reagents that impact the initial, receptor-induced conformational changes in the envelope glycoprotein. Our results support the notion that these alanine mutations specifically affect the conformational transition to the fusion-active gp41 structure. The mutations also increase viral sensitivity to the gp41-directed monoclonal antibody 2F5, suggesting that this broadly neutralizing antibody may also interfere with this transition. The conformational activation of the HIV-1 envelope glycoprotein likely represents a viable target for vaccine and antiviral drug development.

DOI

10.1128/JVI.76.14.7356-7362.2002

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