CD4-induced activation in a soluble HIV-1 Env trimer

The HIV envelope glycoprotein (Env) trimer undergoes receptor-induced conformational changes that drive fusion of the viral and cellular membranes. Env conformational changes have been observed using low-resolution electron microscopy, but only large-scale rearrangements have been visible. Here, we use hydrogen-deuterium exchange and oxidative labeling to gain a more precise understanding of the unliganded and CD4-bound forms of soluble Env trimers (SOSIP.664), including their glycan composition. CD4 activation induces the reorganization of bridging sheet elements, V1/V2 and V3, much of the gp120 inner domain, and the gp41 fusion subunit. Two CD4 binding site-targeted inhibitors have substantially different effects: NBD-556 partially mimics CD4-induced destabilization of the V1/V2 and V3 crown, whereas BMS-806 only affects regions around the gp120/gp41 interface. The structural information presented here increases our knowledge of CD4- and small molecule-induced conformational changes in Env and the allosteric pathways that lead to membrane fusion.