Subunit stoichiometry of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 envelope glycoprotein trimers during virus entry into host cells.

The envelope glycoproteins of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) function as a homotrimer of gp120/gp41 heterodimers to support virus entry. During the process of virus entry, an individual HIV-1 envelope glycoprotein trimer binds the cellular receptors CD4 and CCR5/CXCR4 and mediates the fusion of the viral and the target cellular membranes. By studying the function of heterotrimers between wild-type and nonfunctional mutant envelope glycoproteins, we found that two wild-type subunits within an envelope glycoprotein trimer are required to support virus entry.

Stoichiometry of envelope glycoprotein trimers in the entry of human immunodeficiency virus type 1.

The human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) envelope glycoproteins (Envs) function as a trimer, mediating virus entry by promoting the fusion of the viral and target cell membranes. HIV-1 Env trimers induce membrane fusion through a pH-independent pathway driven by the interaction between an Env trimer and its cellular receptors, CD4 and CCR5/CXCR4. We studied viruses with mixed heterotrimers of wild-type and dominant-negative Envs to determine the number (T) of Env trimers required for HIV-1 entry.

Stoichiometry of antibody neutralization of human immunodeficiency virus type 1.

The human immunodeficiency virus envelope glycoproteins function as trimers on the viral surface, where they are targeted by neutralizing antibodies. Different monoclonal antibodies neutralize human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infectivity by binding to structurally and functionally distinct moieties on the envelope glycoprotein trimer. By measuring antibody neutralization of viruses with mixtures of neutralization-sensitive and neutralization-resistant envelope glycoproteins, we demonstrate that the HIV-1 envelope glycoprotein trimer is inactivated by the binding of a single antibody molecule.

Characterization of the outer domain of the gp120 glycoprotein from human immunodeficiency virus type 1.

The core of the gp120 glycoprotein from human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) is comprised of three major structural domains: the outer domain, the inner domain, and the bridging sheet. The outer domain is exposed on the HIV-1 envelope glycoprotein trimer and contains binding surfaces for neutralizing antibodies such as 2G12, immunoglobulin G1b12, and anti-V3 antibodies. We expressed the outer domain of HIV-1(YU2) gp120 as an independent protein, termed OD1.