title: Binding of HIV-1 gp120 to the nicotinic receptor.
abstract: We previously described a significant sequence homology between HIV-1 gp120 and the functional sites responsible for the specific binding of snake curare-mimetic neurotoxins and rabies virus glycoprotein to the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor. Here we report findings about the existence of a mechanism of functional molecular mimicry which could enable the binding of HIV-1 gp120 to nicotinic acetylcholine receptors in muscle cells and neurons.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Biology, University of Siena, Italy.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bracci
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lozzi
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rustici
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Neri
mesh_terms: D000109:Acetylcholine / Q000494:pharmacology; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000956:Antigens, Viral; D001667:Binding, Competitive; D002038:Bungarotoxins / Q000378:metabolism; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000737:chemistry; D015699:HIV Envelope Protein gp120 / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009132:Muscles / Q000378:metabolism; D009498:Neurotoxins / Q000737:chemistry; D009538:Nicotine / Q000494:pharmacology; D011978:Receptors, Nicotinic / Q000378:metabolism*; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D000956:Antigens, Viral; D002038:Bungarotoxins; D006023:Glycoproteins; D015699:HIV Envelope Protein gp120; D009498:Neurotoxins; D011978:Receptors, Nicotinic; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins; C064951:glycoprotein G, Rabies virus; D009538:Nicotine; D000109:Acetylcholine