[HTML][HTML] Inhibition of HIV-1 envelope glycoprotein-mediated cell fusion by a DL-amino acid-containing fusion peptide: possible recognition of the fusion complex

D Gerber, M Pritsker, S Gunther-Ausborn… - Journal of Biological …, 2004 - ASBMB
The N-terminal fusion peptide (FP) of human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV-1) is a potent
inhibitor of cell-cell fusion, possibly because of its ability to recognize the corresponding
segments inside the fusion complex within the membrane. Here we show that a fusion
peptide in which the highly conserved Ile 4, Phe 8, Phe 11, and Ala 14 were replaced by
their d-enantiomers (IFFA) is a potent inhibitor of cell-cell fusion. Fourier transform infrared
spectroscopy confirmed that despite these drastic modifications, the peptide preserved most …