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Assessment of Immunologically Relevant Dynamic Tertiary Structural Features of the HIV-1 V3 Loop Crown R2 Sequence by ab initio Folding
Published on: September 15, 2010
The V1/V2 loop of HIV-1 gp120 is necessary for Tat binding and consequent modulation of virus entry
Sabrina Cardaci1, Marco Soster, Federico Bussolino
1Department of Oncology, University of Torino, Candiolo, Italy.
Abstract:
Preventing cell entry of human immunodeficiency virus 1 (HIV-1) is of interest for the development of innovative therapies. We previously reported a specific interaction between HIV-1 envelope glycoprotein 120 (gp120) and Tat at the cell surface, which enhances virus attachment and entry. We also identified a gp120-mimicking peptide, CT319, that competes with gp120 for Tat binding, thus inhibiting HIV-1 infection. Here we report a molecular dissection of gp120 regions involved in this mechanism. Our findings identify the V1/V2 loop of gp120 as involved in Tat binding, and define this interaction as functionally relevant for HIV-1 entry into host cells.
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