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. 1997 Jul;71(7):5706–5711. doi: 10.1128/jvi.71.7.5706-5711.1997

Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 and 2 envelope glycoproteins oligomerize through conserved sequences.

R J Center 1, B E Kemp 1, P Poumbourios 1
PMCID: PMC191822  PMID: 9188654

Abstract

Hetero-oligomerization between human immunodeficiency virus type 2 (HIV-2) envelope glycoprotein (Env) truncation mutants and epitope-tagged gp160 is dependent on the presence of gp41 transmembrane protein (TM) amino acids 552 to 589, a putative amphipathic alpha-helical sequence. HIV-2 Env truncation mutants containing this sequence were also able to form cross-type hetero-oligomers with HIV-1 Env. HIV-2/HIV-1 hetero-oligomerization was, however, more sensitive to disruption by mutagenesis or increased temperature. The conservation of the Env oligomerization function of the HIV-1 and HIV-2 alpha-helical sequences suggests that retroviral TM alpha-helical motifs may have a universal role in oligomerization.

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Selected References

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