Cryo-EM structure of a fully glycosylated soluble cleaved HIV-1 envelope trimer

Science. 2013 Dec 20;342(6165):1484-90. doi: 10.1126/science.1245627. Epub 2013 Oct 31.

Abstract

The HIV-1 envelope glycoprotein (Env) trimer contains the receptor binding sites and membrane fusion machinery that introduce the viral genome into the host cell. As the only target for broadly neutralizing antibodies (bnAbs), Env is a focus for rational vaccine design. We present a cryo-electron microscopy reconstruction and structural model of a cleaved, soluble Env trimer (termed BG505 SOSIP.664 gp140) in complex with a CD4 binding site (CD4bs) bnAb, PGV04, at 5.8 angstrom resolution. The structure reveals the spatial arrangement of Env components, including the V1/V2, V3, HR1, and HR2 domains, as well as shielding glycans. The structure also provides insights into trimer assembly, gp120-gp41 interactions, and the CD4bs epitope cluster for bnAbs, which covers a more extensive area and defines a more complex site of vulnerability than previously described.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • AIDS Vaccines / chemistry
  • AIDS Vaccines / immunology
  • Antibodies, Neutralizing / chemistry
  • Antibodies, Viral / chemistry
  • Binding Sites
  • CD4 Antigens / chemistry*
  • CD4 Antigens / immunology
  • Cryoelectron Microscopy
  • Glycosylation
  • Immunodominant Epitopes / chemistry
  • Immunodominant Epitopes / immunology
  • Models, Molecular*
  • Polysaccharides / chemistry
  • Protein Multimerization
  • Protein Structure, Quaternary
  • Protein Structure, Tertiary
  • env Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus / chemistry*
  • env Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus / immunology

Substances

  • AIDS Vaccines
  • Antibodies, Neutralizing
  • Antibodies, Viral
  • CD4 Antigens
  • Immunodominant Epitopes
  • Polysaccharides
  • env Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus
  • gp140 envelope protein, Human immunodeficiency virus 1

Associated data

  • PDB/3J5M