[Conformation of the HIV-1 gp120 V3 loop. Structure functional analysis of the HIV-Haiti viral strain]

The structural model describing the conformational preferences of the HIV-Haiti gp120 V3 loop in geometric space of dihedral angles was generated in terms of NMR spectroscopy data using the methods of computer modeling. The elements of secondary structure anti conformations of irregular stretches were deciphered for the fragment making the virus principal neutralizing determinant as well as the determinants of cell tropism and syncytium formation. The structurally conserved amino acids of the HIV-1 V3 loop, that may present the forward-looking targets for AIDS drug design, were identified based on the combined analysis of the results obtained with those derived previously. In particular, it was demonstrated that the register of these amino acids comprises Asn-25 critical for virus binding with primary cell receptor CD4 as well as Arg-3 critical for utilization of CCR5 coreceptor and heparan sulfate proteoglycan syndecans. The results obtained are discussed in conjunction with the literature data on the biological activity of individual amino acid residues of the HIV-1 gpl20 V3 loop.