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Updated: Oct 22, 2026

Imaging of HIV-1 Envelope-induced Virological Synapse and Signaling on Synthetic Lipid Bilayers
Published on: March 8, 2012
Properties of HIV membrane reconstituted from its recombinant gp160 envelope glycoprotein
B Cornet1, E Decroly, D Thines-Sempoux
1Laboratoire de Chimie-Physique des Macromolécules aux Interfaces, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Belgium.
Abstract:
Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) membrane has been reconstituted from the recombinant envelope glycoprotein precursor (gp160) by a detergent dialysis technique. Electron microscopy shows that gp160-virosomes are spherical vesicles with a mean diameter identical to that of viral particles. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and immunogold labeling demonstrate efficient association of gp160 with lipid vesicles and proteolysis treatment reveals an asymmetric insertion with about 90% of glycoproteins having their gp120-moiety pointing outside. Glycoproteins are organized as dimers and tetramers and gp160 retains its ability to specifically bind CD4 receptor after reconstitution into virosome.
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