Yk. Weng et al., Structure-function studies of the self-assembly domain of the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 transmembrane protein gp41, J VIROLOGY, 74(11), 2000, pp. 5368-5372
The coiled-coil region of the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 transmemb
rane protein (gp41) makes up the interior core of the six-helix bundle stru
cture of the gp41 self-assembly domain. We extended our previous study of t
his domain (Y. Weng and C. D. Weiss, J. Virol. 72:9676-9682, 1998) by analy
zing 23 additional mutants at positions that lie at the interface of the in
terior core and outer helices. We found nine new functional mutants. For mo
st mutants, the activity could be explained by the ability of the modeled m
utants to stabilize the six-helix bundle structure. The present study provi
des insights into the envelope glycoprotein fusion mechanism and informatio
n for rational drug and vaccine design.