Gp41
GP41 | |||||||||
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![]() Example crystal structures of HIV-1 envelope glycoprotein Gp41 | |||||||||
Identifiers | |||||||||
Symbol | GP41 | ||||||||
Pfam | PF00517 | ||||||||
InterPro | IPR000328 | ||||||||
SCOP2 | 2siv/SCOPe/SUPFAM | ||||||||
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Gp41also known asglycoprotein 41is a subunit of the envelopeprotein complexofretroviruses,includinghuman immunodeficiency virus(HIV). Gp41 is atransmembrane proteinthat contains several sites within itsectodomainthat are required for infection of host cells. As a result of its importance in host cell infection, it has also received much attention as a potential target forHIV vaccines.
Gene and post-translational modifications
[edit]Gp41 is coded withgp120as one gp160 by theenvgeneof HIV. Gp160 is then extensivelyglycosylatedandproteolyticallycleaved byfurin,a host cellularprotease.The high glycosylation of theenv-coded glycoproteins allows them to escape the human body'simmune system.In contrast to gp120, however, gp41 is less glycosylated and moreconserved(less prone togenetic variations).[1]Once gp160 has been cleaved into its individual subunits, the subunits are then associated non-covalently on the surface of theviral envelope.[citation needed]
Structure
[edit]Gp41 and gp120, when non-covalently bound to each other, are referred to as the envelope spike complex and are formed as aheterotrimerof three gp41 and three gp120.[2]These complexes found on the surface of HIV are responsible for the attachment, fusion, and ultimately the infection of host cells. The structure is cage-like with a hollow center that inhibitsantibodyaccess. While gp120 sits on the surface of the viral envelope, gp41 is thetransmembraneportion of thespike proteincomplex with a portion of the glycoprotein buried within the viral envelope at all times.[3]
Gp41 has three prominent regions within the sequence: the ectodomain, the transmembrane domain, and the cytoplasmic domain. The ectodomain, which comprises residues 511-684, can be further broken down into thefusion peptideregion (residues 512-527), the helical N-terminalheptad repeat(NHR) and C-terminal heptad repeat (CHR).[3][4]In addition to these regions, there is also a loop region that containsdisulfide bondsthat stabilize the hairpin structure (the folded conformation of gp41) and a region called the membrane proximal external region (MPER) which contains kinks that areantigentarget regions.[3][1]The fusion peptide region is normally buried or hidden by the non-covalent interactions between gp120 and gp41, at a point which lookstorus-like. This prevents the fusion peptide from interacting with other regions that are not its intended target region.[2]
Function
[edit]In a freevirion,the fusion peptides at the amino termini of gp41 are buried within the envelope complex in an inactive non-fusogengic state that is stabilized by anon-covalent bondwithgp120.Gp120 binds to aCD4and a co-receptor (CCR5orCXCR4), found on susceptible cells such asHelper T cellsandmacrophages.[5]As a result, a cascade of conformational changes occurs in the gp120 and gp41 proteins. These conformational changes start with gp120 that rearranges to expose the binding sites for the coreceptors mentioned above. The core of gp41 then folds into a six helical bundle (a coiled coil) structure exposing the previously hidden hydrophobic gp41 fusion peptides that are inserted in the host cell membrane allowing fusion to take place.[2]This fusion process is facilitated by the hairpin conformational structure.[6][7]The inner core of this conformation is 3 NHRs which have hydrophobic pockets that allow it to bind anti-parallel to specific residues on the CHR.[4][2]The activation process occurs readily, which suggests that the inactive state of gp41 ismetastableand the conformational changes allow gp41 to achieve its more stable active state. Furthermore, these conformational changes are irreversible processes.[8]
![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/61/HIV_Membrane_fusion_panel.svg/822px-HIV_Membrane_fusion_panel.svg.png)
As a drug target
[edit]The interaction of gp41 fusion peptides with the target cell causes a formation of an intermediate, pre-hairpin structure which bridges and fuses the viral and host membranes together. The pre-hairpin structure has a relatively long half-life which makes it a potential target for therapeutic intervention and inhibitory peptides.[9]
Enfuvirtide(also known as T-20) is a 36-residue Alpha -peptidefusion inhibitordrug that binds to the pre-hairpin structure and prevents membrane fusion and HIV-1 entry to the cell. The vulnerability of this structure has initiated development towards a whole spectrum of fusion preventing drugs.[10][11]In developing these drugs, researchers face challenges because the conformation that allows for inhibition occurs very quickly and then rearranges.[12]Enfuviritide specifically has a low oral availability and is quickly processed and expelled by the body. Certain strains of HIV have also developed resistance to T-20. In order to circumvent the difficulties that come with using T-20, researchers have sought out peptide-based inhibitors.[3]A variety of naturally occurring molecules have also been shown to bind gp41 and prevent HIV-1 entry.[13]
The MPER is one region that has been studied as a potential target because of its ability to be recognized bybroadly neutralizing antibodies (bNAbs),but it hasn't been a very good target because the immune response it elicits isn't very strong and because it is the portion of gp41 that enters the cell membrane (and it cannot be reached by antibodies then).[14]In addition to antigen binding regions on MPER kinks, there are other targets that could prove to be effective antigen binding regions, including the hydrophobic pockets of the NHR core that is formed following the conformational change in gp41 that creates the six-helix bundle.[1]These pockets could potentially serve as targets for small molecule inhibitors.[4]The fusion peptide on the N-terminus of the gp41 is also a potential target because it contains neutralizing antibody epitopes.[15]N36 and C34, or NHR- and CHR-basedpeptides(or short sequences of amino acids that mimic portions of gp41) can also act as effective antigens because of their high affinity binding. In addition to having a much higher affinity for binding when compared to its monomer, C34 also inhibits T-20 resistant HIV very well, which makes it a potentially good alternative to treatments involving enfuviritide.[12]Small-molecule inhibitors that are able to bind to two hydrophobic pockets at once have also been shown to be 40-60 times more potent and have potential for further developments.[16]Most recently, the gp120-gp41 interface is being considered as a target for bNAbs.[1]
References
[edit]- ^abcdWibmer, Constantinos Kurt; Moore, Penny L.; Morris, Lynn (2015)."HIV broadly neutralizing antibody targets".Current Opinion in HIV and AIDS.10(3): 135–143.doi:10.1097/coh.0000000000000153.PMC4437463.PMID25760932.
- ^abcdMao, Youdong; Wang, Liping; Gu, Christopher; Herschhorn, Alon; Xiang, Shi-Hua; Haim, Hillel; Yang, Xinzhen; Sodroski, Joseph (2012)."Subunit organization of the membrane-bound HIV-1 envelope glycoprotein trimer".Nature Structural & Molecular Biology.19(9): 893–899.doi:10.1038/nsmb.2351.PMC3443289.PMID22864288.
- ^abcdYi, Hyun A.; Fochtman, Brian C.; Rizzo, Robert C.; Jacobs, Amy (2016-01-01)."Inhibition of HIV Entry by Targeting the Envelope Transmembrane Subunit gp41".Current HIV Research.14(3): 283–294.doi:10.2174/1570162x14999160224103908.ISSN1873-4251.PMC4909398.PMID26957202.
- ^abcLu, Lu; Yu, Fei; Cai, Lifeng; Debnath, Asim; Jiang, Shibo (2015)."Development of Small-molecule HIV Entry Inhibitors Specifically Targeting gp120 or gp41".Current Topics in Medicinal Chemistry.16(10): 1074–1090.doi:10.2174/1568026615666150901114527.PMC4775441.PMID26324044.
- ^Chan DC, Kim PS (May 1998)."HIV entry and its inhibition".Cell.93(5): 681–4.doi:10.1016/S0092-8674(00)81430-0.PMID9630213.S2CID10544941.
- ^Nomura, Wataru; Mizuguchi, Takaaki; Tamamura, Hirokazu (2016-07-01). "Multimerized HIV-gp41-derived peptides as fusion inhibitors and vaccines".Peptide Science.106(4): 622–628.doi:10.1002/bip.22782.ISSN1097-0282.PMID26583370.S2CID33914448.
- ^Buzon V, Natrajan G, Schibli D, Campelo F, Kozlov MM, Weissenhorn W (May 2010)."Crystal structure of HIV-1 gp41 including both fusion peptide and membrane proximal external regions".PLOS Pathogens.6(5): e1000880.doi:10.1371/journal.ppat.1000880.PMC2865522.PMID20463810.
- ^Munro, James B.; Mothes, Walther (2015-06-01)."Structure and Dynamics of the Native HIV-1 Env Trimer".Journal of Virology.89(11): 5752–5755.doi:10.1128/JVI.03187-14.ISSN0022-538X.PMC4442439.PMID25762739.
- ^Lalezari JP, Henry K, O'Hearn M, Montaner JS, Piliero PJ, Trottier B, Walmsley S, Cohen C,Kuritzkes DR,Eron JJ, Chung J, DeMasi R, Donatacci L, Drobnes C, Delehanty J, Salgo M (May 2003)."Enfuvirtide, an HIV-1 fusion inhibitor, for drug-resistant HIV infection in North and South America".The New England Journal of Medicine.348(22): 2175–85.doi:10.1056/NEJMoa035026.PMID12637625.
- ^Root MJ, Steger HK (2004). "HIV-1 gp41 as a target for viral entry inhibition".Current Pharmaceutical Design.10(15): 1805–25.doi:10.2174/1381612043384448.PMID15180542.
- ^Werner, Halina M; Horne, W Seth (2015-10-01)."Folding and function in α/β-peptides: targets and therapeutic applications".Current Opinion in Chemical Biology.Synthetic biology • Synthetic biomolecules.28:75–82.doi:10.1016/j.cbpa.2015.06.013.PMC4624501.PMID26136051.
- ^abYi HA, Fochtman BC, Rizzo RC, Jacobs A (2016-01-01)."Inhibition of HIV Entry by Targeting the Envelope Transmembrane Subunit gp41".Current HIV Research.14(3): 283–94.doi:10.2174/1570162x14999160224103908.PMC4909398.PMID26957202.
- ^Eade CR, Wood MP, Cole AM (January 2012)."Mechanisms and modifications of naturally occurring host defense peptides for anti-HIV microbicide development".Current HIV Research.10(1): 61–72.doi:10.2174/157016212799304580.PMC4270272.PMID22264047.
- ^Ghose, Chandrabali; Eugenis, Ioannis; Sun, Xingmin; Edwards, Adrianne N.; McBride, Shonna M.; Pride, David T.; Kelly, Ciarán P.; Ho, David D. (2016-02-03)."Immunogenicity and protective efficacy of recombinant Clostridium difficile flagellar protein FliC".Emerging Microbes & Infections.5(2): e8.doi:10.1038/emi.2016.8.PMC4777929.PMID26839147.
- ^Kong, Rui; Xu, Kai; Zhou, Tongqing; Acharya, Priyamvada; Lemmin, Thomas; Liu, Kevin; Ozorowski, Gabriel; Soto, Cinque; Taft, Justin D. (2016-05-13)."Fusion peptide of HIV-1 as a site of vulnerability to neutralizing antibody".Science.352(6287): 828–833.Bibcode:2016Sci...352..828K.doi:10.1126/science.aae0474.ISSN0036-8075.PMC4917739.PMID27174988.
- ^Sofiyev, Vladimir; Kaur, Hardeep; Snyder, Beth A.; Hogan, Priscilla A.; Ptak, Roger G.; Hwang, Peter; Gochin, Miriam (2017-01-01)."Enhanced potency of bivalent small molecule gp41 inhibitors".Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry.25(1): 408–420.doi:10.1016/j.bmc.2016.11.010.PMC5260928.PMID27908751.
External links
[edit]- gp41 Envelope Protein, HIVat the U.S. National Library of MedicineMedical Subject Headings(MeSH)