Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 14, 2026

Imaging of HIV-1 Envelope-induced Virological Synapse and Signaling on Synthetic Lipid Bilayers
Published on: March 8, 2012
Changes in the transmembrane region of the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 gp41 envelope glycoprotein affect
E Helseth1, U Olshevsky, D Gabuzda
1Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Department of Pathology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts.
The charged amino acids near or within the membrane-spanning region of the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 gp41 envelope glycoprotein were altered. Two mutants were defective for syncytium formation and virus replication even though levels of envelope glycoproteins on the cell or virion surface and CD4 binding were comparable to those of the wild-type proteins. Thus, in addition to anchoring the envelope glycoproteins, sequences proximal to the membrane-spanning gp41 region are important for the membrane fusion process.
The charged amino acids near or within the membrane-spanning region of the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 gp41 envelope glycoprotein were altered. Two mutants were defective for syncytium formation and virus replication even though levels of envelope glycoproteins on the cell or virion surface and CD4 binding were comparable to those of the wild-type proteins. Thus, in addition to anchoring the envelope glycoproteins, sequences proximal to the membrane-spanning gp41 region are important for the membrane fusion process.
Related Concept Videos
Fusion of Secretory Vesicles with the Plasma Membrane
In 1993, Jim Rothman proposed that the antiparallel pairing of vesicular and transmembrane SNAREs, or...
Coat Assembly and GTPases
Coat assembly depends on the local availability of phosphatidylinositol phosphates or PIPs and GTP-binding proteins. Adaptor proteins, which link the coat proteins to the membrane, bind to these PIPs and play a crucial role in controlling...
SNAREs and Membrane Fusion
SNAREs exist in pairs that symmetrically interact and catalyze the fusion of the lipid bilayers in vesicle and target organelle. v-SNARE in the vesicle membrane are single polypeptide chains that bind to a complementary t-SNARE, composed of 2...
GPI Anchoring of Proteins in the ER Membrane
GPI-anchor structure
A sequence of 11 enzymatic reactions results in the synthesis of the complete GPI anchor consisting of a hydrophobic and a hydrophilic portion. The hydrophobic portion comprises phosphatidylinositol, while the hydrophilic part comprises polar groups like phosphoethanolamine,...
Influenza
Inhibitors of Virion Maturation and Assembly

