Genart Biotech, Corp. Queens, New York, United States of America
Research Article
Tetrasulfide Bridge (TTSB) Formation: An Extraordinary Intermediate Structure in the Architecture and Dynamics of HIV-1's gp120 Molecule
Author(s): Harry F. Crevecoeur*
Gp120, one of the molecules that execute HIV viral entry in CD4+ cells has a number of allosteric disulfide bridges. In this study we explore the dynamics of these potential disulfide (disulphide) bridges in the 3-D configuration (based on crystallography) and UNSW DBA analyses of various gp120 crystals. The data reveal the existence of a tetrasulfide (tetrasulphide) bridge (TTSB) which, together with a disulfide bridge, keeps two perpendicular beta sheets (namely V3 and V4) approximated in the architecture of the gp120 while allowing safe transfer of energy between the allosteric bonds. Analyses of multiple gp120 crystals reveal the existence of the TTSB to be more of an intermediate as opposed to a constant landmark, which implies more complex functions than just structural attributes. This TTSB, which is observed in various crystals of gp120, in various strains and clades of HIV-1,.. View more»