A GENERAL-MODEL FOR THE SURFACE GLYCOPROTEINS OF HIV AND OTHER RETROVIRUSES

A hypothetical model of the surface (SU) glycoproteins of human immuno deficiency virus (HIV) and other retroviruses is proposed. The model i s based on repetition of a limited number of sequence motifs conserved within the virus family; similarities in biological, immunological, o r genetic properties; as well as the tendency for regions of dissimila r sequence to share protein structures predicted by computer algorithm s. It is proposed that the protein consists of three structural and fu nctional domains interspersed by relatively conserved interdomain regi ons. For each retrovirus, these amino-terminal, central; and carboxy-t erminal domains may play different roles in binding, postbinding event s, and the immune response to viral infection.