HIV entry and envelope glycoprotein-mediated fusion

J Biol Chem. 2012 Nov 30;287(49):40841-9. doi: 10.1074/jbc.R112.406272. Epub 2012 Oct 5.

Abstract

HIV entry involves binding of the trimeric viral envelope glycoprotein (Env) gp120/gp41 to cell surface receptors, which triggers conformational changes in Env that drive the membrane fusion reaction. The conformational landscape that the lipids and Env navigate en route to fusion has been examined by biophysical measurements on the microscale, whereas electron tomography, x-rays, and NMR have provided insights into the process on the nanoscale and atomic scale. However, the coupling between the lipid and protein pathways that give rise to fusion has not been resolved. Here, we discuss the known and unknown about the overall HIV Env-mediated fusion process.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Intramural
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Biophysics / methods
  • Crystallography, X-Ray / methods
  • Electron Microscope Tomography / methods
  • HIV Envelope Protein gp120 / metabolism*
  • HIV Envelope Protein gp41 / metabolism*
  • HIV Infections / virology*
  • Humans
  • Lipids / chemistry
  • Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy / methods
  • Membrane Fusion / immunology
  • Models, Molecular
  • Molecular Conformation
  • Protein Conformation

Substances

  • HIV Envelope Protein gp120
  • HIV Envelope Protein gp41
  • Lipids