A screening assay for antiviral compounds targeted to the HIV-1 gp41 core structure using a conformation-specific monoclonal antibody.
The human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) gp41 plays an important role in membrane fusion between viruses and target cells. The gp41 ectodomain contains two heptad repeat regions adjacent to the N and C-termini. Peptides derived from these two regions, designated N and C-peptides, are potent inhibitors of HIV-1 infection and can interact with each other to form a six-stranded coiled-coil, representing the fusogenic core structure of gp41. A monoclonal antibody was generated, designated NC-1, which specifically binds to the complex formed by the N and C-peptides, but not to the individual peptides. An enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was developed using NC-1 for detecting complex formed by N and C-peptides and for screening of organic compounds for antiviral agents that may interfere with complex formation and inhibit HIV-1 infection. Single point mutations in the C-peptides abolish the complex formation also eliminate their anti-HIV-1 activity. A phenylazo-naphthalene sulfonic acid derivative, designated ADS-J1, was found to inhibit both formation of NC-1 detectable complex and HIV-1-mediated membrane fusion, suggesting that the described ELISA is applicable to rapid screening of libraries of organic compounds for HIV-1 inhibitors targeted to the HIV-1 gp41 core structure.
The Lindsley F. Kimball Research Institute, New York Blood Center, NY 10021, USA. sjiang@nybc.org
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D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000378:metabolism*; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000378:metabolism; D002459:Cell Fusion; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / Q000379:methods; D015483:HIV Antibodies / Q000378:metabolism*; D015700:HIV Envelope Protein gp41 / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010455:Peptides / Q000378:metabolism; D017354:Point Mutation; D011487:Protein Conformation; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
D019380:Anti-HIV Agents; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D015483:HIV Antibodies; D015700:HIV Envelope Protein gp41; D010455:Peptides