Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 clade B envelope glycoprotein (Env) (HIV-1 clade B Env)

The Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) clade B envelope glycoprotein (Env) is the essential machinery for viral entry into host cells. It is synthesized as a gp160 precursor that is proteolytically cleaved into the surface subunit gp120 and the transmembrane subunit gp41, which remain non-covalently associated as a heterotrimer on the viral surface (UniProt P04578). Env mediates infection by binding to the host CD4 receptor and a coreceptor, such as CCR5 or CXCR4, leading to a conformational change that facilitates the fusion of the viral and host cell membranes (PubMed: 28457634). As the only viral protein exposed on the virion surface, it is the primary target for the host immune response and the focus of vaccine development efforts. Clade B is the dominant subtype in the Americas, Europe, and Australasia, making its Env protein a central focus of clinical research. Therapeutic agents targeting this protein include attachment inhibitors like fostemsavir, which binds gp120, and fusion inhibitors like enfuvirtide, which targets gp41 (PubChem CID 71245230). Additionally, numerous broadly neutralizing antibodies (bNAbs) are being investigated for their ability to bind conserved epitopes on Env to prevent infection across diverse viral strains (PubMed: 30212447).

Other names

gp160gp120gp41Envelope surface glycoprotein gp120Transmembrane glycoprotein gp41HIV-1 Env

Inhibition of viral attachment to CD4 receptors via gp120 binding, prevention of conformational changes required for co-receptor binding, and blockade of the fusion pore formation via gp41 binding (PubMed: 12634810, PubChem CID 71245230).