Abstract:
N-linked glycosylation at specific sites on HIV-1 gp120 envelope
glycoprotein is believed to act as glycan shields to protect the viral neutralizing
epitopes. Various glycosylation sites have been shown to affect the sensitivity to
antibody-mediated neutralization. These include sites on V1, V2, C2, base of V3, V5
and C5. Among these, the sites around the base of the V3 loop have been most
consistently found to associate with neutralization sensitivity in subtype B viruses. In
contrast, N-linked glycosylation sites at the junction between V2 and C2, and in the
middle of C2 were responsible for the neutralization resistance in CRF01_AE, while a
site at the base of the V3 loop did not affect the neutralization phenotype.