Molecular Portrait: Anti-HIV-1 V3 Fab 2557
The anti-HIV-1 V3 Fab 2557 is a set of conserved molecules that form a crown on the V3 region. Find more information here: http://bit.ly/hRRSUT
PubMed Abstract: Binding of the third variable region (V3) of the HIV-1 envelope glycoprotein gp120 to the cell-surface coreceptors CCR5 or CXCR4 during viral entry suggests that there are conserved structural elements in this sequence-variable region. These conserved elements could serve as epitopes to be targeted by a vaccine against HIV-1. Here we perform a systematic structural analysis of representative human anti-V3 monoclonal antibodies in complex with V3 peptides, revealing that the crown of V3 has four conserved structural elements: an arch, a band, a hydrophobic core and the peptide backbone. These are either unaffected by or are subject to minimal sequence variation. As these regions are targeted by cross-clade neutralizing human antibodies, they provide a blueprint for the design of vaccine immunogens that could elicit broadly cross-reactive protective antibodies.
In this molecular illustration: Amino Acid Sequence, Antibodies, Monoclonal, Antibody Specificity, Conserved Sequence, Crystallography, X-Ray, Epitopes, HIV Envelope Protein gp120, Humans, Hydrophobicity, Immunoglobulin Fragments, Models, Molecular, Molecular Sequence Data, Peptides, Protein Structure, Secondary, Protein Structure, Tertiary, Sequence Alignment, Species Specificity, Molecule