Sequence similarity between human immunodeficiency virus type 1 envelope protein (gp120) and human proteins: a new hypothesis on protective antibody production.
The production of neutralizing antibodies against the central portion of HIV-1 gp120 requires cooperation between T cell and B cell epitopes of this region. We found a motif common to the carboxyterminus of the second conserved region of HIV-1 gp120 and sequences of some human proteins, most of which participate in immune response. The sequence of gp120 of HTLV-IIIB with the highest T-cell reactivity incorporates this motif. It is suggested that the existence of this sequence motif in the central region of the HIV-1 gp120 molecule prevents the production of neutralizing antibodies against the virus in humans.
Veljković
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V
Laboratory for Multidisciplinary Research, Boris Kidric Institute, Beograd, Yugoslavia.
Metlas
R
R
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000276:immunology; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000276:immunology; D006133:Growth Substances / Q000276:immunology; D015699:HIV Envelope Protein gp120 / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007108:Immune Tolerance; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009500:Neutralization Tests; D011506:Proteins / Q000276:immunology*; D012689:Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology
D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D015703:Antigens, CD; D006133:Growth Substances; D015699:HIV Envelope Protein gp120; D011506:Proteins