INTERACTION OF AN ANTI-HIV PEPTIDE, T22, WITH GP120 AND CD4

T22 ([Tyr(5,12), Lys(7)]-polyphemusin II) has been shown to have stron g anti-human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) activity. The precise mechan ism of action of T22 on HIV-replication has not been elucidated yet, n or have the targets of T22 been identified. However, our previous rese arch suggested that T22 exerts its effect by blocking virus-cell fusio n and that T22 might interact with an HIV envelope protein and/or a T- cell surface protein. Herein we use a novel biosensor based on the pri nciples of surface plasmon resonance (BIAcore) to demonstrate that T22 binds specifically to both gp120 (an envelope protein of HIV) and CD4 (a T-cell surface protein) and that both bindings can be inhibited by an anti-T22 antibody. The data obtained suggest that T22 inhibits vir us-cell fusion through the double binding to the above two proteins. ( C) 1996 Academic Press, inc.