A Hidden Region in the Third Variable Domain of HIV-1 IIIB gp120 Identified by a Monoclonal Antibody

The third variable domain (V3 domain) of HIV-1 gp120 is involved in virus neutralization by antibody, in determination of cell tropism, and in syncytium-inducing/non-syncytium-inducing capacity. Antibodies are highly specific tools to delineate the role of different V3 amino acid sequences in these processes, and to dissect events occurring during synthesis of gp120/160, gp120-CD4 interaction, cellular infection, and syncytium formation.

We describe here an IgG₁ murine monoclonal antibody (MAb), coded IIIB-V3-01, that was raised with a synthetic peptide (FVTIGKIGNMRQAHC) derived from the carboxy-terminal flank of the HIV-1 IIIB V3 domain. The binding site of this antibody was mapped to the sequence IGKIGNMRQ, using Pepscan analysis. In ELISA, this antibody binds to E. coli-derived gp120 from HIV-1 IIIB, which is denatured and not glycosylated. The antibody showed no neutralizing activity against HIV-1 IIIB, MN, SF2, or RF in a virus neutralization assay and in a syncytium formation inhibition assay. In addition, this antibody did not react with gp120 expressed on the surface of IIIB-infected MOLT-3 cells in FACS analysis. To assess whether the epitope defined by MAb IHB-V3-01 is hidden on native gp120. reactivity of the antibody with SDS-DTT-denatured or DTT-denatured glycosylated gp120 (CHO cell produced) was tested. Both these treatments exposed the epitope for binding. From these data we conclude that the epitope defined by MAb IIIB-V3-01 is hidden on glycosylated recombinant gp120, and is not accessible on gp120 expressed on the membrane of HIV-1, IIIB-infected cells. The results described contribute to the understanding of the three-dimensional structure of native gp120.