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

PLoS One. 2011;6(8):e23521. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0023521. Epub 2011 Aug 16.

Abstract

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.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Cells, Cultured
  • Glycosylation
  • HEK293 Cells
  • HIV Envelope Protein gp120 / chemistry*
  • HIV Envelope Protein gp120 / genetics
  • HIV Envelope Protein gp120 / metabolism
  • HIV-1 / chemistry*
  • HIV-1 / classification
  • HIV-1 / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Mannose / chemistry
  • Mannose / metabolism
  • Oligosaccharides / chemistry*
  • Oligosaccharides / metabolism
  • Polysaccharides / chemistry*
  • Polysaccharides / metabolism
  • Recombinant Proteins / chemistry
  • Recombinant Proteins / metabolism
  • Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization
  • Virion / chemistry
  • Virion / metabolism

Substances

  • HIV Envelope Protein gp120
  • Oligosaccharides
  • Polysaccharides
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • Mannose