Characterization of the furin cleavage motif for HIV-1 trimeric envelope glycoprotein by intact LC-MS analysis

Analyst. 2020 Mar 2;145(5):1636-1640. doi: 10.1039/c9an02098e.

Abstract

Generating a soluble and native-like trimeric envelope glycoprotein (Env) with high efficacy as an immunogen has been a major focus for developing an effective vaccine against HIV-1. The Env immunogen is a heavily glycosylated protein composed of 3 identical surface gp120 and gp41 subunits that form into a trimer of heterodimers (3 × 28 N-glycan sites). During Env immunogen production, endogenous furin works to cleave a hexa-arginine motif connecting the gp120 and gp41 subunits, which is needed to ensure proper protein folding and a native-like conformation of Env. Verification of the overall identity and proteolytic cleavage of Env is therefore important for HIV-1 vaccine development and product quality. Herein, we report the first work using LC-MS to (1) achieve fast and accurate intact mass measurement of Env after deglycosylation and (2) confidently identify the furin cleavage sites.

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Motifs
  • Chromatography, Liquid / methods*
  • Furin / chemistry
  • Furin / metabolism*
  • HIV Envelope Protein gp120 / chemistry
  • HIV Envelope Protein gp120 / metabolism*
  • HIV Envelope Protein gp41 / chemistry
  • HIV Envelope Protein gp41 / metabolism*
  • Humans
  • Protein Binding
  • Protein Folding
  • Protein Multimerization*
  • Tandem Mass Spectrometry / methods*

Substances

  • HIV Envelope Protein gp120
  • HIV Envelope Protein gp41
  • Furin