An Asymmetric Opening of HIV-1 Envelope Mediates Antibody-Dependent Cellular Cytotoxicity

Nirmin Alsahafi, Nordine Bakouche, Mohsen Kazemi, Jonathan Richard, Shilei Ding, Sudipta Bhattacharyya, Durba Das, Sai Priya Anand, Jérémie Prévost, William D. Tolbert, Hong Lu, Halima Medjahed, Gabrielle Gendron-Lepage, Gloria Gabrielle Ortega Delgado, Sharon Kirk, Bruno Melillo, Walther Mothes, Joseph Sodroski, Amos B. Smith, Daniel E. KaufmannXueling Wu, Marzena Pazgier, Isabelle Rouiller*, Andrés Finzi, James B. Munro

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

77 Scopus citations

Abstract

The HIV-1 envelope glycoprotein (Env) (gp120-gp41) 3 is the target for neutralizing antibodies and antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC). HIV-1 Env is flexible, sampling different conformational states. Before engaging CD4, Env adopts a closed conformation (State 1) that is largely antibody resistant. CD4 binding induces an intermediate state (State 2), followed by an open conformation (State 3) that is susceptible to engagement by antibodies that recognize otherwise occluded epitopes. We investigate conformational changes in Env that induce ADCC in the presence of a small-molecule CD4-mimetic compound (CD4mc). We uncover an asymmetric Env conformation (State 2A) recognized by antibodies targeting the conserved gp120 inner domain and mediating ADCC. Sera from HIV+ individuals contain these antibodies, which can stabilize Env State 2A in combination with CD4mc. Additionally, triggering State 2A on HIV-infected primary CD4 + T cells exposes epitopes that induce ADCC. Strategies that induce this Env conformation may represent approaches to fight HIV-1 infection. HIV-1 envelope glycoproteins (Env) are very flexible and exist in at least three different conformational states. Alsahafi et al. characterize a fourth Env state that is efficiently recognized by antibodies capable of mediating potent antibody-dependent cellular toxicity.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)578-587.e5
JournalCell Host and Microbe
Volume25
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - 10 Apr 2019
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • 17b
  • A32
  • ADCC
  • CD4i Abs
  • HIV-1
  • State 2A
  • cryo-EM
  • envelope glycoproteins
  • smFRET

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