Abstract
We have used laboratory-based molecular modelling to identify structural features of antigen chimaeras of poliovirus expressing epitopes from human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1) that may affect virus viability. Chimaeras were constructed by replacement of antigenic site 1 of VP1 by sequences corresponding to epitopes from HIV-1. Loop volume, estimated by approximating the loop to an ellipsoid was significantly (P less than 0.001) lower in viable (2062.1 A3 +/- 400.2) than in non-viable (3617 A3 +/- 650.7) constructs. Our results suggest that viable virus will only be formed when antigen chimeras modified at antigenic site of VP1 have a loop occupying a similar volume in space to that occupied by the antigenic site 1 loop. In addition, the modified loop must fit with the peptide bond angles and distances at the top of the beta-barrel of VP1.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 194-8 |
| Number of pages | 5 |
| Journal | FEBS Letters |
| Volume | 271 |
| Issue number | 1-2 |
| Publication status | Published - 1 Oct 1990 |
Keywords
- Amino Acid Sequence
- Chimera
- Computer Simulation
- Epitopes
- HIV Antigens
- HIV-1
- Models, Molecular
- Molecular Sequence Data
- Poliovirus
- Protein Conformation
- Solubility
