Sara Insausti, Miguel Garcia-Porras, Johana Torralba, Izaskun Morillo, Ander Ramos-Caballero, Igor de la Arada, Beatriz Apellaniz, Jose M M Caaveiro, Pablo Carravilla, Christian Eggeling, Edurne Rujas, Jose L Nieva
Antibody engagement with the membrane-proximal external region (MPER) of the envelope glycoprotein (Env) of HIV-1 constitutes a distinctive molecular recognition phenomenon, the full appreciation of which is crucial for understanding the mechanisms that underlie the broad neutralization of the virus. Recognition of the HIV-1 Env antigen seems to depend on two specific features developed by antibodies with MPER specificity: (i) a large cavity at the antigen-binding site that holds the epitope amphipathic helix; and (ii) a membrane-accommodating Fab surface that engages with viral phospholipids...
September 15, 2022: International Journal of Molecular Sciences