HIV-1 envelope glycoprotein (HIV-1 Env) (HIV-1 Env)

The HIV-1 envelope glycoprotein (Env) is the essential surface protein of the Human Immunodeficiency Virus type 1, serving as the sole mediator of viral entry into host cells (Burton & Hangartner, 2016 [https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27046338/]). It is produced as a gp160 precursor that is proteolytically processed into the gp120 surface subunit and the gp41 transmembrane subunit, which assemble into a functional heterotrimer (UniProt P04578 [https://www.uniprot.org/uniprotkb/P04578/entry]). Env's primary biological function involves binding to the host CD4 receptor and subsequent interaction with co-receptors (CCR5 or CXCR4), leading to the fusion of viral and cellular membranes (Kwong & Mascola, 2018 [https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29671217/]). As the only viral antigen exposed on the virion surface, Env is the primary target for the host immune response and the focus of vaccine development (NIH/NIAID [https://www.niaid.nih.gov/diseases-conditions/vrc-bnabs]). Broadly neutralizing antibodies (bNAbs) are a specialized class of antibodies that can neutralize a wide range of HIV-1 variants by targeting conserved regions of the Env trimer, such as the CD4 binding site or the membrane-proximal external region. Therapeutic strategies involve the passive administration of these bNAbs or the design of "germline-targeting" immunogens intended to prime the precursors of these antibodies to elicit a protective immune response.

Other names

gp160gp120gp41Envelope surface glycoproteinHIV-1 Env trimer

Neutralization of viral entry via binding to conserved epitopes on gp120 or gp41, inhibition of CD4 receptor attachment, and prevention of membrane fusion.