Synthetic peptides for study of human immunodeficiency virus infection

• Published in: Applied biochemistry and biotechnology 2002-07, Vol.102-103 (1-6), p.41-47
• Main Authors: Dettin, Monica, Scarinci, Claudia, Pasquato, Antonella, Di Bello, Carlo
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Amino Acid Sequence; CCR5 protein; CD4 antigen; CD4 Antigens - metabolism; Chemokine CXCL12; Chemokines, CXC - chemistry; Chemokines, CXC - genetics; Chemokines, CXC - metabolism; CXCR4 protein; Cytokines - chemistry; Cytokines - genetics; Cytokines - metabolism; Drug Design; Glycoprotein gp120; Glycoprotein gp160; HIV; HIV Envelope Protein gp120 - chemistry; HIV Envelope Protein gp120 - genetics; HIV Envelope Protein gp120 - metabolism; HIV Infections - metabolism; HIV Infections - virology; HIV-1 - genetics; HIV-1 - metabolism; Human immunodeficiency virus; Humans; Immune system; Infections; Molecular Sequence Data; Peptide Fragments - metabolism; Peptides; Point Mutation; Protein structure; Proteins; Receptors, CCR5 - chemistry; Receptors, CCR5 - genetics; Receptors, CCR5 - metabolism; Receptors, CXCR4 - chemistry; Receptors, CXCR4 - genetics; Receptors, CXCR4 - metabolism; Recombinant Proteins - metabolism; SDF-1 protein; Secondary structure; Studies; Synthetic peptides; Tumor Cells, Cultured; Viruses
• ISSN: 0273-2289; 0273-2289; 1559-0291
• DOI: 10.1385/ABAB:102-103:1-6:041

The formation of a complex among gp120, CD4, and CCR5/CXCR4 represents a key step in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. The use of synthetic peptides reproducing sequences of these surface proteins has increased knowledge about the interactions that determine the penetration of HIV viruses into target cells. The final aim of such investigations is the design of molecules able to inhibit the initial step of infection and the development of high-sensitivity in vitro assays for detection of HIV. In particular, the studies presented herein concern the role of the gp120 V3 loop in the CD4 binding, the importance of the N-terminal sequence of HIV-coreceptor CCR5, the sequences patterned on CXCR4 natural ligand (stromal-derived factor 1 [SDF-1]) as inhibitory peptides, and the importance of substrate secondary structure in determining the enzymatic processing of gp120 precursor (gp160).