VRC01 gp120 complex: Difference between revisions

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<ref name="wu" />. This conformational change results in the exposure of a binding site for the co-receptor, usually CCR5 OR CXCR4. (Li) 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<ref>PMID: 22807678</ref>. VRC01 binds to CD4’s binding site on gp120, preventing the CD4 receptor from binding to HIV and infecting the cell<ref name="wu" />.