title: The design of a specific ligand of HIV gp120.
abstract: The crystal structure of CD4 suggested that the C/G38 and C/L44 replacements with the consequent cystine bridge formation are compatible with the native structure of that molecular moiety. As the NQGSF sequence, corresponding to the 39-43 fragment of human CD4 protein, was found to be involved in the HIV gp120 interaction, it has been synthesized in a cyclic form by adding two cysteine residues at the amino and carboxy termini. 1H-NMR studies show that the predominant solution conformation of cyclo-[CNQGSFC] is a type II beta-turn centred on the NQGS segment. Structural and dynamic properties of the peptide are also analysed in relation to the in vitro activity.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Biologia Molecolare, Università di Siena, Italy.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Scarselli
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Facchiano
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Russo
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Molinari
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ragona
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zetta
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Niccolai
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D015704:CD4 Antigens / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D015726:Giant Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000821:virology; D015699:HIV Envelope Protein gp120 / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008024:Ligands; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D009842:Oligopeptides / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology; D010456:Peptides, Cyclic / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology; D011487:Protein Conformation
chemical_list: D015704:CD4 Antigens; D015699:HIV Envelope Protein gp120; D008024:Ligands; D009842:Oligopeptides; D010456:Peptides, Cyclic