scholarly journals Comparative Analysis of the Glycosylation Profiles of Membrane-Anchored HIV-1 Envelope Glycoprotein Trimers and Soluble gp140

2015 ◽  
Vol 89 (16) ◽  
pp. 8245-8257 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eden P. Go ◽  
Alon Herschhorn ◽  
Christopher Gu ◽  
Luis Castillo-Menendez ◽  
Shijian Zhang ◽  
...  

ABSTRACTThe human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) envelope glycoprotein (Env) trimer, which consists of the gp120 and gp41 subunits, is the focus of multiple strategies for vaccine development. Extensive Env glycosylation provides HIV-1 with protection from the immune system, yet the glycans are also essential components of binding epitopes for numerous broadly neutralizing antibodies. Recent studies have shown that when Env is isolated from virions, its glycosylation profile differs significantly from that of soluble forms of Env (gp120 or gp140) predominantly used in vaccine discovery research. Here we show that exogenous membrane-anchored Envs, which can be produced in large quantities in mammalian cells, also display a virion-like glycan profile, where the glycoprotein is extensively decorated with high-mannose glycans. Additionally, because we characterized the glycosylation with a high-fidelity profiling method, glycopeptide analysis, an unprecedented level of molecular detail regarding membrane Env glycosylation and its heterogeneity is presented. Each glycosylation site was characterized individually, with about 500 glycoforms characterized per Env protein. While many of the sites contain exclusively high-mannose glycans, others retain complex glycans, resulting in a glycan profile that cannot currently be mimicked on soluble gp120 or gp140 preparations. These site-level studies are important for understanding antibody-glycan interactions on native Env trimers. Additionally, we report a newly observedO-linked glycosylation site, T606, and we show that the fullO-linked glycosylation profile of membrane-associated Env is similar to that of soluble gp140. These findings provide new insight into Env glycosylation and clarify key molecular-level differences between membrane-anchored Env and soluble gp140.IMPORTANCEA vaccine that protects against human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection should elicit antibodies that bind to the surface envelope glycoproteins on the membrane of the virus. The envelope glycoproteins have an extensive coat of carbohydrates (glycans), some of which are recognized by virus-neutralizing antibodies and some of which protect the virus from neutralizing antibodies. We found that the HIV-1 membrane envelope glycoproteins have a unique pattern of carbohydrates, with many high-mannose glycans and also, in some places, complex glycans. This pattern was very different from the carbohydrate profile seen for a more easily produced soluble version of the envelope glycoprotein. Our results provide a detailed characterization of the glycans on the natural membrane envelope glycoproteins of HIV-1, a carbohydrate profile that would be desirable to mimic with a vaccine.

2002 ◽  
Vol 76 (9) ◽  
pp. 4634-4642 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xinzhen Yang ◽  
Juliette Lee ◽  
Erin M. Mahony ◽  
Peter D. Kwong ◽  
Richard Wyatt ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT The envelope glycoproteins of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) function as a trimer composed of three gp120 exterior glycoproteins and three gp41 transmembrane proteins. Soluble gp140 glycoproteins composed of the uncleaved ectodomains of gp120 and gp41 form unstable, heterogeneous oligomers, but soluble gp140 trimers can be stabilized by fusion with a C-terminal, trimeric GCN4 motif (X. Yang et al., J. Virol. 74:5716-5725, 2000). To understand the influence of the C-terminal trimerization domain on the properties of soluble HIV-1 envelope glycoprotein trimers, uncleaved, soluble gp140 glycoproteins were stabilized by fusion with another trimeric motif derived from T4 bacteriophage fibritin. The fibritin construct was more stable to heat and reducing conditions than the GCN4 construct. Both GCN4- and fibritin-stabilized soluble gp140 glycoproteins exhibited patterns of neutralizing and nonneutralizing antibody binding expected for the functional envelope glycoprotein spike. Of note, two potently neutralizing antibodies, immunoglobulin G1b12 and 2G12, exhibited the greatest recognition of the stabilized, soluble trimers, relative to recognition of the gp120 monomer. The observed similarities between the GCN4 and fibritin constructs indicate that the HIV-1 envelope glycoprotein ectodomains dictate many of the antigenic and structural features of these fusion proteins. The melting temperatures and ligand recognition properties of the GCN4- and fibritin-stabilized soluble gp140 glycoproteins suggest that these molecules assume conformations distinct from that of the fusion-active, six-helix bundle.


Vaccines ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 76 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mitch Brinkkemper ◽  
Kwinten Sliepen

The enormous sequence diversity between human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) strains poses a major roadblock for generating a broadly protective vaccine. Many experimental HIV-1 vaccine efforts are therefore aimed at eliciting broadly neutralizing antibodies (bNAbs) that are capable of neutralizing the majority of circulating HIV-1 strains. The envelope glycoprotein (Env) trimer on the viral membrane is the sole target of bNAbs and the key component of vaccination approaches aimed at eliciting bNAbs. Multimeric presentation of Env on nanoparticles often plays a critical role in these strategies. Here, we will discuss the different aspects of nanoparticles in Env vaccination, including recent insights in immunological processes underlying their perceived advantages, the different nanoparticle platforms and the various immunogenicity studies that employed nanoparticles to improve (neutralizing) antibody responses against Env.


2019 ◽  
Vol 93 (12) ◽  
Author(s):  
Hanh T. Nguyen ◽  
Nirmin Alsahafi ◽  
Andrés Finzi ◽  
Joseph G. Sodroski

ABSTRACTMost broadly neutralizing antibodies and many entry inhibitors target the pretriggered (state 1) conformation of the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) envelope glycoprotein (Env). Here we examine two previously reported Env mutants designed to be stabilized in this conformation by the introduction of artificial disulfide bonds: A501C/T605C (called SOS) and I201C/A433C (called DS). SOS Env supported virus entry and cell-cell fusion only after exposure to a reducing agent, dithiothreitol (DTT). Deletion of the Env cytoplasmic tail improved the efficiency with which the SOS Env supported virus infection in a reducing environment. The antigenicity of the SOS Env was similar to that of the unmodified Env, except for greater sensitivity to some state 1-preferring ligands. In contrast, viruses with the DS Env were not infectious, even after DTT treatment. The proteolytic maturation of the DS Env on both cell surfaces and virions was severely compromised compared with that of the unmodified Env. The DS Env exhibited detectable cell-fusing activity when DTT was present. However, the profiles of cell-surface Env recognition and cell-cell fusion inhibition by antibodies differed for the DS Env and the unmodified Env. Thus, the DS Env appears to be stabilized in an off-pathway conformation that is nonfunctional on the virus. The SOS change exerted more subtle, context-dependent effects on Env conformation and function.IMPORTANCEThe human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) envelope proteins (Envs) bind receptors on the host cell and change shape to allow the virus to enter the cell. Most virus-inhibiting antibodies and drugs recognize a particular shape of Env called state 1. Disulfide bonds formed by cysteine residues have been introduced into soluble forms of the flexible envelope proteins in an attempt to lock them into state 1 for use in vaccines and as research tools. We evaluated the effect of these cysteine substitutions on the ability of the membrane Env to support virus entry and on susceptibility to inhibition by antibodies and small molecules. We found that the conformation of the envelope proteins with the cysteine substitutions differed from that of the unmodified membrane envelope proteins. Awareness of these effects can assist efforts to create stable HIV-1 Env complexes that more closely resemble the state 1 conformation.


2005 ◽  
Vol 79 (6) ◽  
pp. 3500-3508 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xinzhen Yang ◽  
Svetla Kurteva ◽  
Sandra Lee ◽  
Joseph Sodroski

ABSTRACT The human immunodeficiency virus envelope glycoproteins function as trimers on the viral surface, where they are targeted by neutralizing antibodies. Different monoclonal antibodies neutralize human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infectivity by binding to structurally and functionally distinct moieties on the envelope glycoprotein trimer. By measuring antibody neutralization of viruses with mixtures of neutralization-sensitive and neutralization-resistant envelope glycoproteins, we demonstrate that the HIV-1 envelope glycoprotein trimer is inactivated by the binding of a single antibody molecule. Virus neutralization requires essentially all of the functional trimers to be occupied by at least one antibody. This model applies to antibodies differing in neutralizing potency and to virus isolates with various neutralization sensitivities. Understanding these requirements for HIV-1 neutralization by antibodies will assist in establishing goals for an effective AIDS vaccine.


2000 ◽  
Vol 74 (12) ◽  
pp. 5716-5725 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xinzhen Yang ◽  
Michael Farzan ◽  
Richard Wyatt ◽  
Joseph Sodroski

ABSTRACT The human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) envelope glycoproteins function as a membrane-anchored trimer of three gp120 exterior glycoproteins and three gp41 transmembrane glycoproteins. Previously, we reported three approaches to stabilize soluble trimers containing parts of the gp41 ectodomains: addition of GCN4 trimeric helices, disruption of the cleavage site between gp120 and gp41, and introduction of cysteines in the gp41 coiled coil to form intersubunit disulfide bonds. Here, we applied similar approaches to stabilize soluble gp140 trimers including the complete gp120 and gp41 ectodomains. A combination of fusion with the GCN4 trimeric sequences and disruption of the gp120-gp41 cleavage site resulted in relatively homogeneous gp140 trimers with exceptional stability. The gp120 epitopes recognized by neutralizing antibodies are intact and exposed on these gp140 trimers. By contrast, the nonneutralizing antibody epitopes on the gp120 subunits of the soluble trimers are relatively occluded compared with those on monomeric gp120 preparations. This antigenic similarity to the functional HIV-1 envelope glycoproteins and the presence of the complete gp41 ectodomain should make the soluble gp140 trimers useful tools for structural and immunologic studies.


1991 ◽  
Vol 174 (6) ◽  
pp. 1557-1563 ◽  
Author(s):  
S B Jiang ◽  
K Lin ◽  
A R Neurath

Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) envelope glycoproteins (gp120 and gp41) elicit virus-neutralizing antibodies (VNAB) and also antibodies enhancing HIV-1 infection (EAB). Several epitopes eliciting VNAB have been defined, the principal virus-neutralizing determinant being assigned to the V3 loop of gp120. To provide a background for a rational design of anti-HIV vaccines, it also appears important to define domains eliciting EAB. This was accomplished by screening antisera against synthetic peptides covering almost the entire sequence of gp120/gp41 for their enhancing effects on HIV-1 infection of MT-2 cells, a continuous T cell line. Many (16/30) of the antisera significantly enhanced HIV-1 in the presence of human complement. Antibodies to complement receptor type 2 (CR2) abrogated the antibody-mediated enhancement of HIV-1 infection. Antisera to V3 hypervariable loops of 21 distinct HIV-1 isolates were also tested for their enhancing effects on HIV-1IIIB infection. 11 of these sera contained VNAB and 10 enhanced HIV-1IIIB infection. All antisera with virus-enhancing activity contained antibodies crossreactive with the V3 loop of HIV-1IIIB, and the virus-enhancing activity increased with increasing serological crossreactivity. These results suggest that immunization with antigens encompassing V3 loops may elicit EAB rather than protective antibodies if epitopes on the immunogen and the predominant HIV-1 isolate infecting a population are insufficiently matched, i.e., crossreactive serologically but not at the level of virus neutralization.


2003 ◽  
Vol 77 (12) ◽  
pp. 6645-6659 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jason A. LaBonte ◽  
Navid Madani ◽  
Joseph Sodroski

ABSTRACT T-tropic (X4) and dualtropic (R5X4) human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) envelope glycoproteins kill primary and immortalized CD4+ CXCR4+ T cells by mechanisms involving membrane fusion. However, because much of HIV-1 infection in vivo is mediated by M-tropic (R5) viruses whose envelope glycoproteins use CCR5 as a coreceptor, we tested a panel of R5 and R5X4 envelope glycoproteins for their ability to lyse CCR5+ target cells. As is the case for CXCR4+ target cells, HIV-1 envelope glycoproteins expressed by single-round HIV-1 vectors killed transduced CD4+ CCR5+ cells in a membrane fusion-dependent manner. Furthermore, a CD4-independent R5 HIV-1 envelope glycoprotein was able to kill CD4-negative target cells expressing CCR5, demonstrating that CD4 is not intrinsically required for the induction of death. Interestingly, high levels of CD4 expression protected cells from lysis and syncytium formation mediated by the HIV-1 envelope glycoproteins. Immunoprecipitation experiments showed that high levels of CD4 coexpression inhibited proteolytic processing of the HIV-1 envelope glycoprotein precursor gp160. This inhibition could be overcome by decreasing the CD4 binding ability of gp120. Studies were also undertaken to investigate the ability of virion-bound HIV-1 envelope glycoproteins to kill primary CD4+ T cells. However, neither X4 nor R5X4 envelope glycoproteins on noninfectious virions caused death in primary CD4+ T cells. These results demonstrate that the interaction of CCR5 with R5 HIV-1 envelope glycoproteins capable of inducing membrane fusion leads to cell lysis; overexpression of CD4 can inhibit cell killing by limiting envelope glycoprotein processing.


2005 ◽  
Vol 79 (14) ◽  
pp. 8812-8827 ◽  
Author(s):  
Simon Beddows ◽  
Norbert Schülke ◽  
Marc Kirschner ◽  
Kelly Barnes ◽  
Michael Franti ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT The human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) envelope glycoprotein (Env) complex comprises three gp120 exterior glycoproteins each noncovalently linked to a gp41 transmembrane glycoprotein. Monomeric gp120 proteins can elicit antibodies capable of neutralizing atypically sensitive test viruses in vitro, but these antibodies are ineffective against representative primary isolates and the gp120 vaccines failed to provide protection against HIV-1 transmission in vivo. Alternative approaches to raising neutralizing antibodies are therefore being pursued. Here we report on the antibody responses generated in rabbits against a soluble, cleaved, trimeric form of HIV-1JR-FL Env. In this construct, the gp120 and gp41 moieties are covalently linked by an intermolecular disulfide bond (SOS gp140), and an I559P substitution has been added to stabilize gp41-gp41 interactions (SOSIP gp140). We investigated the value of DNA priming and compared the use of membrane-bound and soluble priming antigens and of repeat boosting with soluble and particulate protein antigen. Compared to monomeric gp120, SOSIP gp140 trimers elicited approximately threefold lower titers of anti-gp120 antibodies. Priming with DNA encoding a membrane-bound form of the SOS gp140 protein, followed by several immunizations with soluble SOSIP gp140 trimers, resulted in antibodies capable of neutralizing sensitive strains at high titers. A subset of these sera also neutralized, at lower titers, HIV-1JR-FL and some other primary isolates in pseudovirus and/or whole-virus assays. Neutralization of these viruses was immunoglobulin mediated and was predominantly caused by antibodies to gp120 epitopes, but not the V3 region.


1998 ◽  
Vol 72 (5) ◽  
pp. 4116-4126 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rosemary E. Kiernan ◽  
Akira Ono ◽  
George Englund ◽  
Eric O. Freed

ABSTRACT The matrix protein of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) has been reported to play a crucial role in the targeting of the Gag polyprotein precursor to the plasma membrane and in the incorporation of viral envelope glycoproteins into budding virions. In this report, we present evidence that mutation of a highly conserved Leu at matrix amino acid 20 blocks or markedly delays virus replication in a range of cell types, including T-cell lines, primary human peripheral blood mononuclear cells, and monocyte-derived macrophages. These mutations do not impair virus assembly and release, RNA encapsidation, or envelope glycoprotein incorporation into virions but rather cause significant defects in an early step in the virus life cycle, as measured by single-cycle infectivity assays and the analysis of viral DNA synthesis early postinfection. This infectivity defect is independent of the type of envelope glycoprotein carried on mutant virions; similar results are obtained in pseudotyping experiments using wild-type or truncated HIV-1 envelope glycoproteins, the amphotropic murine leukemia virus envelope, or the vesicular stomatitis G protein. Intriguingly, matrix residue 20 mutations also increase the apparent binding of Gag to membrane, accelerate the kinetics of Gag processing, and induce defects in endogenous reverse transcriptase activity without affecting virion density or morphology. These results help elucidate the function of matrix in HIV-1 replication.


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