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Published on: March 8, 2012
Human immunodeficiency virus gp120 binding C'C" ridge of CD4 domain 1 is also involved in interaction with class II
U Moebius1, L K Clayton, S Abraham
1Laboratory of Immunobiology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA.
Insights
The CD4 protein
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Structural Biology
- Virology
Background:
- The C'C'' ridge region of human CD4 is known to bind human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) gp120.
- This region's role in class II major histocompatibility complex (MHC) binding is not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of CD4's C'C'' ridge residues in class II MHC binding.
- To understand the structural basis of CD4 interactions with both HIV and class II MHC.
Main Methods:
- Site-directed mutagenesis of CD4.
- Analysis of CD4 structural data.
- Assessment of class II MHC binding affinity.
Main Results:
- Specific charged and hydrophobic residues (Lys-35, Lys-46, Arg-59, Phe-43) in the C'C'' ridge significantly contribute to class II MHC binding.
- Mutations in buried residues (Trp-62, Ser-49) disrupt class II MHC interaction.
- The HIV binding site on CD4 is a smaller subset of the larger class II MHC binding site.
Conclusions:
- The C'C'' ridge of CD4 is crucial for both HIV gp120 and class II MHC binding.
- Drug design targeting CD4-HIV interactions must account for the overlapping binding surfaces with class II MHC.
Abstract:
Using site-directed mutagenesis informed by high-resolution CD4 structural data, we have investigated the role of residues of the C'C'' ridge region of human CD4 on class II major histocompatibility complex (MHC) binding. This C'C'' ridge is homologous to the CDR2 loop of an immunoglobulin variable domain and is known to contain the binding site for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) coat glycoprotein gp120. Here we report that this region is also involved in interaction with class II MHC. Exposed positively charged residues Lys-35, Lys-46, and Arg-59 and the exposed hydrophobic residue Phe-43 contribute significantly to class II MHC binding. Moreover, mutations in the buried residues Trp-62 and Ser-49, which support the top and bottom of the C'C'' ridge, respectively, disrupt class II MHC interaction. The HIV binding region appears to involve a restricted area of the larger class II MHC binding site on CD4. Strategies of drug design aimed at interrupting CD4-HIV interaction will need to consider the extensive overlap between class II MHC and HIV gp120 binding surfaces in this region of CD4.
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