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| Progress in the structure and function of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 gp41 |
| YAO Qian-Qian; LV Jun; YE Rong |
| Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China |
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Abstract Entrance of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) into cells is mediated by envelope glycoprotein (Env) ，which contains a receptor-binding unit gp120 and a membrane-fusion unit gp41. HIV-1 gp41 consists of three major functional regions: ectodomain, membrane-spanning domain (MSD) and endodomain. The ectodomain is a structural basis for membrane fusion during viral infection; the hydrophobic residues of MSD anchor Env to the bilayer membrane; and the endodomain plays multiple functions in viral infection, replication and assembly. The most important motifs in the endodomain are three lentivirus lytic peptides (LLP 1-3), two Tyr-contained motifs (Y712XXL and Y802W803), and a dileucine motif (LL856/857). Additionally, the topological change of the endodomain including Kennedy epitope shows there are interactions among three regions of gp41. The progress in function-structure of gp41 not only improves the understanding to the replication and pathogenesis of HIV-1 but also provides some insights into the development of new antiviral drugs.
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Received: 08 July 2011
Published: 01 January 2011
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Corresponding Authors:
YE Rong
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