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Biophysical characterization of gp41 aggregates suggests a model for the molecular mechanism of HIV-associated neurological damage and dementia.

Abstract
In human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected individuals, the level of the HIV envelope protein gp41 in brain tissue is correlated with neurological damage and dementia. In this paper we show by biochemical methods and electron microscopy that the extracellular ectodomain of purified HIV and simian immunodeficiency virus gp41 (e-gp41) forms a mixture of soluble high molecular weight aggregate and native trimer at physiological pH. The e-gp41 aggregate is shown to be largely alpha-helical and relatively stable to denaturants. The high molecular weight form of e-gp41 is variable in size ranging from 7 to 70 trimers, which associate by interactions at the interior of the aggregate involving the loop that connects the N- and C-terminal helices of the e-gp41 core. The trimers are predominantly arranged with their long axes oriented radially, and the width of the high molecular weight aggregate corresponds to the length of two e-gp41 trimers (approximately 200 A). Using both light and electron microscopy combined with immunohistochemistry we show that HIV gp41 accumulates as an extracellular aggregate in the brains of HIV-infected patients diagnosed with dementia. We postulate that the high molecular weight aggregates of e-gp41 are responsible for HIV-associated neurological damage and dementia, consistent with known mechanisms of encephalopathy.
AuthorsM Caffrey, D T Braddock, J M Louis, M A Abu-Asab, D Kingma, L Liotta, M Tsokos, N Tresser, L K Pannell, N Watts, A C Steven, M N Simon, S J Stahl, P T Wingfield, G M Clore
JournalThe Journal of biological chemistry (J Biol Chem) Vol. 275 Issue 26 Pg. 19877-82 (Jun 30 2000) ISSN: 0021-9258 [Print] United States
PMID10747981 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S., Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.)
Chemical References
  • HIV Envelope Protein gp41
  • Membrane Glycoproteins
  • Retroviridae Proteins
  • SIV envelope protein gp41
  • Endopeptidases
Topics
  • AIDS Dementia Complex (genetics, pathology)
  • Brain (pathology, ultrastructure, virology)
  • Brain Diseases (genetics, virology)
  • Chromatography, Gel
  • Endopeptidases (metabolism)
  • Extracellular Space (metabolism)
  • HIV Envelope Protein gp41 (chemistry, metabolism, ultrastructure)
  • HIV Seropositivity (complications)
  • Humans
  • Hydrogen-Ion Concentration
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Membrane Glycoproteins (chemistry, metabolism, ultrastructure)
  • Microscopy, Electron
  • Protein Binding
  • Protein Structure, Tertiary
  • Retroviridae Proteins (chemistry, metabolism, ultrastructure)

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