Insights from NMR Spectroscopy into the Conformational Properties of Man-9 and Its Recognition by Two HIV Binding...

Man₉ GlcNAc₂ (Man-9) present at the surface of HIV makes up the binding sites of several HIV-neutralizing agents and the mammalian lectin DC-SIGN, which is involved in cellular immunity and trans-infections. We describe the conformational properties of Man-9 in its free state and when bound by the HIV entry-inhibitor protein microvirin (MVN), and define the minimum epitopes of both MVN and DC-SIGN by using NMR spectroscopy. To facilitate the implementation of 3D ¹³ C-edited spectra to deconvolute spectral overlap and to determine the solution structure of Man-9, we developed a robust expression system for the production of ¹³ C,¹⁵ N-labeled glycans in mammalian cells. The studies reveal that Man-9 interacts with HIV-binding proteins through distinct epitopes and adopts diverse conformations in the bound state. In combination with molecular dynamics simulations we observed receptor-bound conformations to be sampled by Man-9 in the free state, thus suggesting a conformational selection mechanism for diverse recognition.