VRC01 gp120 complex: Difference between revisions

==Introduction==

HIV-1 enters its host by binding viral gp120, a surface glycoprotein of HIV, to the host cell’s CD4 receptor.  This interaction induces conformational changes in gp120. (Wu) This conformational change results in the exposure of epitopes that can be bound by co-receptors, usually chemokine receptors.  The conformational changes also result in the formation of a pre-hairpin intermediate conformation in which gp41, a transmembrane glycoprotein of HIV, rearranges its molecules so that its N-terminal peptides form a trimer of helices that present a fusion peptide to the target cell.  Once fusion occurs between the fusion peptide and the target cell membrane, HIV is able to enter and infect the target cell. (Tran) VRC01 binds to CD4’s binding site on gp120, preventing the CD4 receptor from binding to HIV and infecting the cell. (Wu).