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Related Experiment Videos

AIDS virus envelope spike structure.

Kenneth H Roux1, Kenneth A Taylor

  • 1Department of Biological Science and Institute of Molecular Biophysics, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32306-4370, USA. roux@bio.fsu.edu

Current Opinion in Structural Biology
|March 31, 2007
PubMed
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HIV envelope (Env) spikes are key to viral entry and antibody targets. New structural insights reveal Env

Area of Science:

  • Virology
  • Structural Biology
  • Immunology

Background:

  • The HIV-1 envelope (Env) spike mediates viral entry, tropism, and is a primary target for neutralizing antibodies.
  • Env is a trimeric complex composed of gp120 (head) and gp41 (stalk) subunits, crucial for viral fusion.
  • Understanding Env structure is vital for developing effective HIV therapies and vaccines.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To elucidate the structural organization and conformational dynamics of the HIV-1 Env spike.
  • To investigate the role of specific Env components, like the V3 loop, in viral fusion and antibody recognition.
  • To integrate atomic-level structures with lower-resolution cryo-ET data for a comprehensive view of Env.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of atomic structures of unliganded and CD4-liganded gp120.

Related Experiment Videos

  • Determination of the structure of the V3 loop in isolation and complex.
  • Cryo-electron tomography (cryo-ET) to visualize the overall trimeric Env structure.
  • Integration of component structures into the cryo-ET map.

    • Main Results:

    • Comparison of unliganded and CD4-liganded gp120 structures reveals significant conformational changes.
    • The V3 loop's structure is defined, highlighting its role in fusion and antibody binding.
    • Emerging data on gp41 structure provides insights into the pre-hairpin intermediate.
    • Cryo-ET provides a 3D map of the trimeric Env spike, integrating component structures.

    Conclusions:

    • Structural insights into Env conformational changes offer a mechanism for fusion initiation.
    • The V3 loop is a critical determinant of viral tropism and a key target for neutralizing antibodies.
    • Integrating atomic and sub-nanometer resolution data advances our understanding of Env organization and function.