Concanavalin A binding to HIV envelope protein is less sensitive to mutations in glycosylation sites than monoclonal antibody 2G12

Many mannose-binding proteins inhibit divergent strains of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) in in vitro models of viral infectivity, suggesting that targeting mannose residues in vaccine applications might offset the strain restriction typically observed in antibody responses to HIV vaccine preparations. Concanavalin A (ConA) behaves like neutralizing antibodies that do not interfere with CD4 binding of gp120 but rather with later events in virus entry. The design of mannose-based vaccines, therefore, depends on understanding the mode of binding of ConA to the envelope protein in comparison with other mannose-binding proteins. Here, we further compare the binding affinity and fine specificity of ConA for the envelope protein to that of the human antibody 2G12. The 2G12 antibody is of unusual structure recognizing a cluster of 12 linked mannose residues associated with Man9GlcNAc2. Molecular structure comparison for Man9GlcNAc2 recognition by ConA and 2G12 indicates that 2G12 has a more restricted specificity to high mannose glycans of gp120 which correlates with kinetic analysis assessed by surface plasmon resonance (SPR) and ConA inhibits 2G12 binding to gp120 but 2G12 does not inhibit ConA binding to gp120. ConA binding to Env proteins from four different HIV strains proves significantly less sensitive to mutations in the glycosylation sites than 2G12 binding to the proteins. Thus, antibodies directed toward mannose epitopes reactive with ConA may prove to be more effective in the long run to thwart HIV infection and transmission.     

An engineered Saccharomyces cerevisiae strain binds the broadly neutralizing human immunodeficiency virus type 1 antibody 2G12 and elicits mannose-specific gp120-binding antibodies

The glycan shield of the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) envelope (Env) protein serves as a barrier to antibody-mediated neutralization and plays a critical role in transmission and infection. One of the few broadly neutralizing HIV-1 antibodies, 2G12, binds to a carbohydrate epitope consisting of an array of high-mannose glycans exposed on the surface of the gp120 subunit of the Env protein. To produce proteins with exclusively high-mannose carbohydrates, we generated a mutant strain of Saccharomyces cerevisiae by deleting three genes in the N-glycosylation pathway, Och1, Mnn1, and Mnn4. Glycan profiling revealed that N-glycans produced by this mutant were almost exclusively Man(8)GlcNAc(2), and four endogenous glycoproteins that were efficiently recognized by the 2G12 antibody were identified. These yeast proteins, like HIV-1 gp120, contain a large number and high density of N-linked glycans, with glycosidase digestion abrogating 2G12 cross-reactivity. Immunization of rabbits with whole Delta och1 Delta mnn1 Delta mnn4 yeast cells produced sera that recognized a broad range of HIV-1 and simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) Env glycoproteins, despite no HIV/SIV-related proteins being used in the immunization procedure. Analyses of one of these sera on a glycan array showed strong binding to glycans with terminal Man alpha1,2Man residues, and binding to gp120 was abrogated by glycosidase removal of high-mannose glycans and terminal Man alpha1,2Man residues, similar to 2G12. Since S. cerevisiae is genetically pliable and can be grown easily and inexpensively, it will be possible to produce new immunogens that recapitulate the 2G12 epitope and may make the glycan shield of HIV Env a practical target for vaccine development.     

Gold nanoparticles coated with oligomannosides of HIV-1 glycoprotein gp120 mimic the carbohydrate epitope of antibody 2G12

After three decades of research, an effective vaccine against the pandemic AIDS caused by human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is not still available, and a deeper understanding of HIV immunology, as well as new chemical tools that may contribute to improve the currently available arsenal against the virus, is highly wanted. Among the few broadly neutralizing human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) monoclonal antibodies, 2G12 is the only carbohydrate-directed one. 2G12 recognizes a cluster of high-mannose glycans on the viral envelope glycoprotein gp120. This type of glycan has thus been envisaged as a target to develop an HIV vaccine that is capable of eliciting 2G12-like antibodies. Herein we show that gold nanoparticles coated with self-assembled monolayers of synthetic oligomannosides [manno-gold glyconanoparticles (GNPs)], which are present in gp120, are able to bind 2G12 with high affinity and to interfere with 2G12/gp120 binding, as determined by surface plasmon resonance and saturation transfer difference NMR spectroscopy. Cellular neutralization assays demonstrated that GNPs coated with a linear tetramannoside could block the 2G12-mediated neutralization of a replication-competent virus under conditions that resemble the ones in which normal serum prevents infection of the target cell. Dispersibility in water and physiological media, absence of cytotoxicity, and the possibility of inserting more than one component into the same nanoparticle make manno-GNPs versatile, polyvalent, and multifunctional systems that may aid efforts to develop new multifaceted strategies against HIV.     

The Influence of N-Linked Glycans on the Molecular Dynamics of the HIV-1 gp120 V3 Loop

N-linked glycans attached to specific amino acids of the gp120 envelope trimer of a HIV virion can modulate the binding affinity of gp120 to CD4, influence coreceptor tropism, and play an important role in neutralising antibody responses. Because of the challenges associated with crystallising fully glycosylated proteins, most structural investigations have focused on describing the features of a non-glycosylated HIV-1 gp120 protein. Here, we use a computational approach to determine the influence of N-linked glycans on the dynamics of the HIV-1 gp120 protein and, in particular, the V3 loop. We compare the conformational dynamics of a non-glycosylated gp120 structure to that of two glycosylated gp120 structures, one with a single, and a second with five, covalently linked high-mannose glycans. Our findings provide a clear illustration of the significant effect that N-linked glycosylation has on the temporal and spatial properties of the underlying protein structure. We find that glycans surrounding the V3 loop modulate its dynamics, conferring to the loop a marked propensity towards a more narrow conformation relative to its non-glycosylated counterpart. The conformational effect on the V3 loop provides further support for the suggestion that N-linked glycosylation plays a role in determining HIV-1 coreceptor tropism.     

The glycan shield of HIV is predominantly oligomannose independently of production system or viral clade

The N-linked oligomannose glycans of HIV gp120 are a target for both microbicide and vaccine design. The extent of cross-clade conservation of HIV oligomannose glycans is therefore a critical consideration for the development of HIV prophylaxes. We measured the oligomannose content of virion-associated gp120 from primary virus from PBMCs for a range of viral isolates and showed cross-clade elevation (62-79%) of these glycans relative to recombinant, monomeric gp120 (～30%). We also confirmed that pseudoviral production systems can give rise to notably elevated gp120 oligomannose levels (～98%), compared to gp120 derived from a single-plasmid viral system using the HIV(LAI) backbone (56%). This study highlights differences in glycosylation between virion-associated and recombinant gp120.     

Preparation,characterization and immunogenicity of HIV-1 related high-mannose oligosaccharides-CRM<Subscript>197</Subscript> glycoconjugates

The dense glycan shield on the surface of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) gp120 masks conserved protein epitopes and facilitates virus entry via interaction to glycan binding proteins on susceptible host cells. The broadly neutralizing monoclonal antibody 2G12 binds a cluster of high-mannose oligosaccharides on the gp120 subunit of HIV-1 Env protein. This oligomannose epitope is currently being considered for the design of a synthetic vaccine. The cluster nature of the 2G12 epitope suggests that a multivalent antigen presentation is important to develop a carbohydrate-based vaccine candidate. In this work we describe the development of neoglycoconjugates displaying clustered HIV-1 related oligomannose carbohydrates. We exploited flexible polyamidoamine (PAMAM) scaffold to generate four- and eight-valent sugar clusters of HIV-1-related oligomannose antigens Man₄, Man₆ and Man₉. The multivalent presentation of oligomannoses increased the avidity of Man₄ and Man₉ to 2G12. The synthetic glycodendrons were then covalently coupled to the protein carrier CRM₁₉₇, formulated with the adjuvant MF59, and used to immunize two animal species. Oligomannose-specific IgG antibodies were generated; however, the antisera failed to recognize recombinant HIV-1 gp120 proteins. We conclude that further structural vaccinology work is needed to identify an antigen presentation that closely matches in vivo the structure of the epitope mapped by 2G12.     

Human monoclonal antibody 2G12 defines a distinctive neutralization epitope on the gp120 glycoprotein of human immunodeficiency virus type 1.

We have isolated and characterized human monoclonal antibody 2G12 to the gp120 surface glycoprotein of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1). This antibody potently and broadly neutralizes primary and T-cell line-adapted clade B strains of HIV-1 in a peripheral blood mononuclear cell-based assay and inhibits syncytium formation in the AA-2 cell line. Furthermore, 2G12 possesses neutralizing activity against strains from clade A but not from clade E. Complement- and antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity-activating functions of 2G12 were also defined. The gp120 epitope recognized by 2G12 was found to be distinctive; binding of 2G12 to LAI recombinant gp120 was abolished by amino acid substitutions removing N-linked carbohydrates in the C2, C3, V4, and C4 regions of gp120. This gp120 mutant recognition pattern has not previously been observed, indicating that the 2G12 epitope is unusual. consistent with this, antibodies able to block 2G12 binding to recombinant gp120 were not detected in significant quantities in 16 HIV-positive human serum samples.     

Solution structure of the monovalent lectin microvirin in complex with Man(alpha)(1-2)Man provides a basis for anti-HIV activity with low toxicity

Lectins that bind surface envelope glycoprotein gp120 of HIV with high avidity can potently inhibit viral entry. Yet properties such as multivalency that facilitate strong interactions can also cause nonspecific binding and toxicity. The cyanobacterial lectin microvirin (MVN) is unusual as it potently inhibits HIV-1 with negligible toxicity compared with cyanovirin-N (CVN), its well studied antiviral homolog. To understand the structural and mechanistic basis for these differences, we solved the solution structure of MVN free and in complex with its ligand Manα(1-2)Man, and we compared specificity and time windows of inhibition with CVN and Manα(1-2)Man-specific mAb 2G12. We show by NMR and analytical ultracentrifugation that MVN is monomeric in solution, and we demonstrate by NMR that Manα(1-2)Man-terminating carbohydrates interact with a single carbohydrate-binding site. Synchronized infectivity assays show that 2G12, MVN, and CVN inhibit entry with distinct kinetics. Despite shared specificity for Manα(1-2)Man termini, combinations of the inhibitors are synergistic suggesting they recognize discrete glycans and/or dynamic glycan conformations on gp120. Entry assays employing amphotropic viruses show that MVN is inactive, whereas CVN potently inhibits both. In addition to demonstrating that HIV-1 can be inhibited through monovalent interactions, given the similarity of the carbohydrate-binding site common to MVN and CVN, these data suggest that gp120 behaves as a clustered glycan epitope and that multivalent-protein interactions achievable with CVN but not MVN are required for inhibition of some viruses.     

2G12-Expressing B Cell Lines May Aid in HIV Carbohydrate Vaccine Design Strategies

The highly conserved cluster of high-mannose glycans on the HIV-1 envelope glycoprotein, gp120, has been highlighted as a target for neutralizing antibodies. 2G12, the first HIV-1 antiglycan neutralizing antibody described, binds with an unusual domain-exchanged structure that creates a high-affinity multivalent binding surface. It is an interesting challenge for rational vaccine design to generate immunogens capable of eliciting domain-exchanged 2G12-like responses. We recently showed that di-mannose recognition by the variable domains of 2G12 is independent of domain exchange but that exchange is critical for virus neutralization. Carbohydrate-based immunogens aimed at inducing 2G12-like antibodies may need to drive both di-mannose recognition and domain exchange through interactions with B cell receptors. Here we assessed the ability of such immunogens to activate mouse B cell lines displaying domain-exchanged wild-type 2G12 (2G12 WT), a non-domain-exchanged Y-shaped variant (2G12 I19R), and germ line 2G12 (2G12 gl). We show that several immunogens, including heat-killed yeast and bacteria, can activate both 2G12 WT and 2G12 I19R B cells. However, only discrete clusters of high-mannose glycans, as on recombinant forms of the HIV-1 envelope trimer and oligodendrons, activate 2G12 WT B cells. Furthermore, no immunogen tested activated 2G12 gl cells. Our results support the hypothesis that in order to drive domain exchange of an antimannose antibody response, a boost with an immunogen displaying discrete clusters of high-mannose glycans not recognized by conventional Y-shaped antibodies will be required. Additionally, a molecule capable of activating 2G12 gl cells might also be required. The results highlight broadly neutralizing antibody-expressing mouse B cells as potentially useful tools for carbohydrate immunogen screening.     

Glycosylation Patterns of HIV-1 gp120 Depend on the Type of Expressing Cells and Affect Antibody Recognition

Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) entry is mediated by the interaction between a variably glycosylated envelope glycoprotein (gp120) and host-cell receptors. Approximately half of the molecular mass of gp120 is contributed by N-glycans, which serve as potential epitopes and may shield gp120 from immune recognition. The role of gp120 glycans in the host immune response to HIV-1 has not been comprehensively studied at the molecular level. We developed a new approach to characterize cell-specific gp120 glycosylation, the regulation of glycosylation, and the effect of variable glycosylation on antibody reactivity. A model oligomeric gp120 was expressed in different cell types, including cell lines that represent host-infected cells or cells used to produce gp120 for vaccination purposes. N-Glycosylation of gp120 varied, depending on the cell type used for its expression and the metabolic manipulation during expression. The resultant glycosylation included changes in the ratio of high-mannose to complex N-glycans, terminal decoration, and branching. Differential glycosylation of gp120 affected envelope recognition by polyclonal antibodies from the sera of HIV-1-infected subjects. These results indicate that gp120 glycans contribute to antibody reactivity and should be considered in HIV-1 vaccine design.     

A Yeast Glycoprotein Shows High-Affinity Binding to the Broadly Neutralizing Human Immunodeficiency Virus Antibody 2G12 and Inhibits gp120 Interactions with 2G12 and DC-SIGN

The human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) envelope (Env) protein contains numerous N-linked carbohydrates that shield conserved peptide epitopes and promote trans infection by dendritic cells via binding to cell surface lectins. The potent and broadly neutralizing monoclonal antibody 2G12 binds a cluster of high-mannose-type oligosaccharides on the gp120 subunit of Env, revealing a conserved and highly exposed epitope on the glycan shield. To find an effective antigen for eliciting 2G12-like antibodies, we searched for endogenous yeast proteins that could bind to 2G12 in a panel of Saccharomyces cerevisiae glycosylation knockouts and discovered one protein that bound weakly in a Δpmr1 strain deficient in hyperglycosylation. 2G12 binding to this protein, identified as Pst1, was enhanced by adding the Δmnn1 deletion to the Δpmr1 background, ensuring the exposure of terminal α1,2-linked mannose residues on the D1 and D3 arms of high-mannose glycans. However, optimum 2G12 antigenicity was found when Pst1, a heavily N-glycosylated protein, was expressed with homogenous Man₈GlcNAc₂ structures in Δoch1 Δmnn1 Δmnn4 yeast. Surface plasmon resonance analysis of this form of Pst1 showed high affinity for 2G12, which translated into Pst1 efficiently inhibiting gp120 interactions with 2G12 and DC-SIGN and blocking 2G12-mediated neutralization of HIV-1 pseudoviruses. The high affinity of the yeast glycoprotein Pst1 for 2G12 highlights its potential as a novel antigen to induce 2G12-like antibodies.The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) has evolved numerous means to evade the humoral immune response, including a two-receptor mechanism for entry that recesses and protects highly conserved binding sites in the gp120 subunit of the viral envelope (Env) protein, trimerization of Env to further protect neutralizing epitopes readily exposed on the monomer, and rapid and continual mutation in the face of immune selective pressure (8, 9). Another highly effective defense mechanism is found in the extensive array of oligosaccharides covering gp120, with approximately 25 N-linked glycosylation sites per gp120 monomer (26). These glycans facilitate HIV type 1 (HIV-1) escape from immune surveillance by presenting immunologically “self” molecules with highly variable glycoforms that mask polypeptide epitopes along the “silent face” of gp120 (46, 49). Additionally, high-mannose-type N-linked glycans on gp120 have been implicated in inducing immunosuppressive responses from dendritic cells (DCs) (40), and in helping viral dissemination by binding to DCs through C-type lectins, such as DC-SIGN (DC-specific intercellular adhesion molecule 3-grabbing nonintegrin) (18, 33, 34). The high affinity of DC-SIGN for mannose structures on gp120 (29, 41), and evidence that DC-SIGN⁺ mucosal cells assist trans infection of permissive T cells, imply a key role for DC-SIGN in early HIV infection after sexual transmission (19).The high-mannose-type glycans of gp120 also represent a vulnerability for HIV-1. Mannose-binding lectins, such as cyanovirin N (16), actinohivin (12), and human mannose-binding protein (17), can interact with gp120 and inhibit HIV-1 infection in vitro. More critically for vaccine studies, high-mannose glycans are also the target of 2G12, one of the few broadly neutralizing monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) isolated from HIV-1-infected patients (36, 37, 42). The potency of this MAb stems from its unique epitope on the exposed and relatively conserved “silent face” of gp120, comprised of a cluster of terminal Manα1,2-Man residues on the D1 and D3 arms of up to three high-mannose glycans (10, 11, 36, 37). 2G12 is thought to have a high affinity for these gp120 glycans due to a unique heavy chain variable (V_H) domain-swapped configuration that forms a multivalent binding surface with a potential noncanonical binding site at the novel V_H/V_H interface in addition to the two conventional V_H/light chain variable (V_L) binding sites. This extended antigen binding surface is thought to allow 2G12 to interact with multiple clustered high-mannose glycans (11).Due to the broadly neutralizing activity of 2G12, the high-mannose glycans on gp120 have aroused interest in the design of glycoantigens that recapitulate the 2G12 epitope. Several such antigens have been created by using flexible linkers to cross-link natural or chemically synthesized high-mannose glycans to various molecular scaffolds, each showing that multivalency of high-mannose glycans is the key to higher 2G12 affinity (2, 25, 27, 43-45). An alternative approach is to express heterologous glycoproteins with natural high-mannose glycans able to support 2G12 binding (28, 38). The yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae expresses many proteins with high densities of N-linked glycans, and the enzymes involved in its N-glycosylation pathway are easily manipulated to produce glycans with various high-mannose structures (3, 31). We previously showed that an engineered strain lacking the OCH1, MNN1, and MNN4 genes for carbohydrate-processing enzymes expressed at least four highly glycosylated proteins that supported 2G12 binding and that immunization of rabbits with whole yeast cells from this strain elicited antibodies that cross-reacted with the glycans of gp120 (28). Here, we describe a second approach to modify the glycosylation machinery of S. cerevisiae and the subsequent discovery of Pst1, a yeast glycoprotein able to bind MAb 2G12. We show that Pst1 displays increased 2G12 binding as the dominant glycans on the protein become more similar to the glycans on the 2G12 epitope of gp120. This form of Pst1, containing strictly Man₈GlcNAc₂ glycans, displayed high affinity for 2G12 and effectively blocked the interaction of gp120 with 2G12 and DC-SIGN. This identifies Pst1 as a candidate molecular scaffold for an effective presentation of the 2G12 epitope and as a potential immunogen to induce mannose-specific antibodies.     

The mannose-dependent epitope for neutralizing antibody 2G12 on human immunodeficiency virus type 1 glycoprotein gp120

We have analyzed the unique epitope for the broadly neutralizing human monoclonal antibody (MAb) 2G12 on the gp120 surface glycoprotein of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1). Sequence analysis, focusing on the conservation of relevant residues across multiple HIV-1 isolates, refined the epitope that was defined previously by substitutional mutagenesis (A. Trkola, M. Purtscher, T. Muster, C. Ballaun, A. Buchacher, N. Sullivan, K. Srinivasan, J. Sodroski, J. P. Moore, and H. Katinger, J. Virol. 70:1100-1108, 1996). In a biochemical study, we digested recombinant gp120 with various glycosidase enzymes of known specificities and showed that the 2G12 epitope is lost when gp120 is treated with mannosidases. Computational analyses were used to position the epitope in the context of the virion-associated envelope glycoprotein complex, to determine the variability of the surrounding surface, and to calculate the surface accessibility of possible glycan- and polypeptide-epitope components. Together, these analyses suggest that the 2G12 epitope is centered on the high-mannose and/or hybrid glycans of residues 295, 332, and 392, with peripheral glycans from 386 and 448 on either flank. The epitope is mannose dependent and composed primarily of carbohydrate, with probably no direct involvement of the gp120 polypeptide surface. It resides on a face orthogonal to the CD4 binding face, on a surface proximal to, but distinct from, that implicated in coreceptor binding. Its conservation amidst an otherwise highly variable gp120 surface suggests a functional role for the 2G12 binding site, perhaps related to the mannose-dependent attachment of HIV-1 to DC-SIGN or related lectins that facilitate virus entry into susceptible target cells.     

Characterization of the outer domain of the gp120 glycoprotein from human immunodeficiency virus type 1

The core of the gp120 glycoprotein from human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) is comprised of three major structural domains: the outer domain, the inner domain, and the bridging sheet. The outer domain is exposed on the HIV-1 envelope glycoprotein trimer and contains binding surfaces for neutralizing antibodies such as 2G12, immunoglobulin G1b12, and anti-V3 antibodies. We expressed the outer domain of HIV-1(YU2) gp120 as an independent protein, termed OD1. OD1 efficiently bound 2G12 and a large number of anti-V3 antibodies, indicating its structural integrity. Immunochemical studies with OD1 indicated that antibody responses against the outer domain of the HIV-1 gp120 envelope glycoprotein are rare in HIV-1-infected human sera that potently neutralize the virus. Surprisingly, such outer-domain-directed antibody responses are commonly elicited by immunization with recombinant monomeric gp120. Immunization with soluble, stabilized HIV-1 envelope glycoprotein trimers elicited antibody responses that more closely resembled those in the sera of HIV-1-infected individuals. These results underscore the qualitatively different humoral immune responses elicited during natural infection and after gp120 vaccination and help to explain the failure of gp120 as an effective vaccine.     

A glycoconjugate antigen based on the recognition motif of a broadly neutralizing human immunodeficiency virus antibody, 2G12, is immunogenic but elicits antibodies unable to bind to the self glycans of gp120

The glycan shield of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) gp120 contributes to viral evasion from humoral immune responses. However, the shield is recognized by the HIV-1 broadly neutralizing antibody (Ab), 2G12, at a relatively conserved cluster of oligomannose glycans. The discovery of 2G12 raises the possibility that a carbohydrate immunogen may be developed that could elicit 2G12-like neutralizing Abs and contribute to an AIDS vaccine. We have previously dissected the fine specificity of 2G12 and reported that the synthetic tetramannoside (Man(4)) that corresponds to the D1 arm of Man(9)GlcNAc(2) inhibits 2G12 binding to gp120 as efficiently as Man(9)GlcNAc(2) itself, indicating the potential use of Man(4) as a building block for creating immunogens. Here, we describe the development of neoglycoconjugates displaying variable copy numbers of Man(4) on bovine serum albumin (BSA) molecules by conjugation to Lys residues. The increased valency enhances the apparent affinity of 2G12 for Man(4) up to a limit which is achieved at approximately 10 copies per BSA molecule, beyond which no further enhancement is observed. Immunization of rabbits with BSA-(Man(4))(14) elicits significant serum Ab titers to Man(4). However, these Abs are unable to bind gp120. Further analysis reveals that the elicited Abs bind a variety of unbranched and, to a lesser extent, branched Man(9) derivatives but not natural N-linked oligomannose containing the chitobiose core. These results suggest that Abs can be readily elicited against the D1 arm; however, potential differences in the presentation of Man(4) on neoglycoconjugates, compared to glycoproteins, poses challenges for eliciting anti-mannose Abs capable of cross-reacting with gp120 and HIV-1.     

The broadly neutralizing anti-human immunodeficiency virus type 1 antibody 2G12 recognizes a cluster of alpha1-->2 mannose residues on the outer face of gp120

2G12 is a broadly neutralizing human monoclonal antibody against human immunodeficiency virus type-1 (HIV-1) that has previously been shown to bind to a carbohydrate-dependent epitope on gp120. Here, site-directed mutagenesis and carbohydrate analysis were used to define further the 2G12 epitope. Extensive alanine scanning mutagenesis showed that elimination of the N-linked carbohydrate attachment sequences associated with residues N295, N332, N339, N386, and N392 by N-->A substitution produced significant decreases in 2G12 binding affinity to gp120(JR-CSF). Further mutagenesis suggested that the glycans at N339 and N386 were not critical for 2G12 binding to gp120(JR-CSF). Comparison of the sequences of isolates neutralized by 2G12 was also consistent with a lesser role for glycans attached at these positions. The mutagenesis studies provided no convincing evidence for the involvement of gp120 amino acid side chains in 2G12 binding. Antibody binding was inhibited when gp120 was treated with Aspergillus saitoi mannosidase, Jack Bean mannosidase, or endoglycosidase H, indicating that Man(alpha)1-->2Man-linked sugars of oligomannose glycans on gp120 are required for 2G12 binding. Consistent with this finding, the binding of 2G12 to gp120 could be inhibited by monomeric mannose but not by galactose, glucose, or N-acetylglucosamine. The inability of 2G12 to bind to gp120 produced in the presence of the glucose analogue N-butyl-deoxynojirimycin similarly implicated Man(alpha)1-->2Man-linked sugars in 2G12 binding. Competition experiments between 2G12 and the lectin cyanovirin for binding to gp120 showed that 2G12 only interacts with a subset of available Man(alpha)1-->2Man-linked sugars. Consideration of all the data, together with inspection of a molecular model of gp120, suggests that the most likely epitope for 2G12 is formed from mannose residues contributed by the glycans attached to N295 and N332, with the other glycans playing an indirect role in maintaining epitope conformation.     

Immunofocusing: antigen engineering to promote the induction of HIV-neutralizing antibodies

Understanding how neutralizing antibodies recognize HIV could aid the design of antigens that induce protective antibodies upon immunization. There have been several advances in this area of AIDS vaccine research, including structural elucidation of the core of two gp120 envelope glycoproteins and, more recently, determination of the structures of the broadly HIV-1-neutralizing antibodies b12, 2G12 and 2F5. The structures have enabled features governing the molecular interaction of each antibody with its epitope to be explored. For the antibody b12, this has resulted in the design of novel, tailored antigens aimed at inducing similar antibodies with equivalent neutralizing properties. This template-based approach to immunogen design shows promise as a means to engineer innovative AIDS vaccine candidates.     

Enzyme digests eliminate nonfunctional Env from HIV-1 particle surfaces, leaving native Env trimers intact and viral infectivity unaffected

HIV-1 viruses and virus-like particles (VLPs) bear nonnative "junk" forms of envelope (Env) glycoprotein that may undermine the development of antibody responses against functional gp120/gp41 trimers, thereby blunting the ability of particles to elicit neutralizing antibodies. Here, we sought to better understand the nature of junk Env with a view to devising strategies for its removal. Initial studies revealed that native trimers were surprisingly stable in the face of harsh conditions, suggesting that junk Env is unlikely to arise by trimer dissociation or gp120 shedding. Furthermore, the limited gp120 shedding that occurs immediately after synthesis of primary HIV-1 isolate Envs is not caused by aberrant cleavage at the tandem gp120/gp41 cleavage sites, which were found to cleave in a codependent manner. A major VLP contaminant was found to consist of an early, monomeric form of gp160 that is glycosylated in the endoplasmic reticulum (gp160ER) and then bypasses protein maturation and traffics directly into particles. gp160ER was found to bind two copies of monoclonal antibody (MAb) 2G12, consistent with its exclusively high-mannose glycan profile. These findings prompted us to evaluate enzyme digests as a way to remove aberrant Env. Remarkably, sequential glycosidase-protease digests led to a complete or near-complete removal of junk Env from many viral strains, leaving trimers and viral infectivity largely intact. "Trimer VLPs" may be useful neutralizing antibody immunogens.     

The role of <Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-glycans of HIV-1 gp41 in virus infectivity and susceptibility to the suppressive effects of carbohydrate-binding agents

Background

Carbohydrate-binding agents (CBAs) are potent antiretroviral compounds that target the N-glycans on the HIV-1 envelope glycoproteins. The development of phenotypic resistance to CBAs by the virus is accompanied by the deletion of multiple N-linked glycans of the surface envelope glycoprotein gp120. Recently, also an N-glycan on the transmembrane envelope glycoprotein gp41 was shown to be deleted during CBA resistance development.

Results

We generated HIV-1 mutants lacking gp41 N-glycans and determined the influence of these glycan deletions on the viral phenotype (infectivity, CD4 binding, envelope glycoprotein incorporation in the viral particle and on the transfected cell, virus capture by DC-SIGN⁺ cells and transmission of DC-SIGN-captured virions to CD4⁺ T-lymphocytes) and on the phenotypic susceptibility of HIV-1 to a selection of CBAs. It was shown that some gp41 N-glycans are crucial for the infectivity of the virus. In particular, lack of an intact N616 glycosylation site was shown to result in the loss of viral infectivity of several (i.e. the X4-tropic III_B and NL4.3 strains, and the X4/R5-tropic HE strain), but not all (i.e. the R5-tropic ADA strain) studied HIV-1 strains. In accordance, we found that the gp120 levels in the envelope of N616Q mutant gp41 strains NL4.3, III_B and HE were severely decreased. In contrast, N616Q gp41 mutant HIV-1_ADA contained gp120 levels similar to the gp120 levels in WT HIV-1_ADA virus. Concomitantly deleting multiple gp41 N-glycans was often highly detrimental for viral infectivity. Using surface plasmon resonance technology we showed that CBAs have a pronounced affinity for both gp120 and gp41. However, the antiviral activity of CBAs is not dependent on the concomitant presence of all gp41 glycans. Single gp41 glycan deletions had no marked effects on CBA susceptibility, whereas some combinations of two to three gp41 glycan-deletions had a minor effect on CBA activity.

Conclusions

We revealed the importance of some gp41 N-linked glycans, in particular the N616 glycan which was shown to be absolutely indispensable for the infectivity potential of several virus strains. In addition, we demonstrated that the deletion of up to three gp41 N-linked glycans only slightly affected CBA susceptibility.

     

Sulfotyrosine dipeptide: Synthesis and evaluation as HIV-entry inhibitor

Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) is responsible for the worldwide AIDS pandemic. Due to the lack of prophylactic HIV-1 vaccine, drug treatment of the infected patients becomes essential to reduce the viral load and to slow down progression of the disease. Because of drug resistance, finding new antiviral agents is necessary for AIDS drug therapies. The interaction of gp120 and co-receptor (CCR5/CXCR4) mediates the entry of HIV-1 into host cells, which has been increasingly exploited in recent years as the target for new antiviral agents. A conserved co-receptor binding site on gp120 that recognizes sulfotyrosine (sTyr) residues represents a structural target to design novel HIV entry inhibitors. In this work, we developed an efficient synthesis of sulfotyrosine dipeptide and evaluated it as an HIV-1 entry inhibitor.