V3 tip determinants of susceptibility to inhibition by CD4-mimetic compounds in natural clade A human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1) envelope glycoproteins

Abstract

CD4-mimetic compounds (CD4mcs) bind the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1) gp120 exterior envelope glycoprotein (Env) and compete for binding to CD4, the host receptor. CD4mcs prematurely trigger conformational changes in Env similar to those induced by CD4, leading to transient activation of infectivity followed by irreversible virus inactivation. Natural HIV-1 variants exhibit a wide range of susceptibilities to CD4mc inhibition, only a small fraction of which can be explained by variation in the gp120 Phe-43 cavity/vestibule where CD4mcs bind. Here, we study Envs from the resistant HIV-1BG505 and the more sensitive HIV-1191955_A4 clade A strains. The major determinant of the relative sensitivity of the HIV-1191955_A4 Env to CD4mcs mapped to a single residue change (F317Y) in the tip of the gp120 V3 variable loop. In the Envs of several HIV-1 strains, replacement of the more prevalent Phe 317 with a tyrosine residue increased virus sensitivity to multiple CD4mcs. Tryptophan substitutions at residues 317 and 316 resulted in increases and decreases, respectively, in sensitivity to CD4mcs. Some of the gp120 V3 changes increased virus sensitivity to inactivation by both CD4mc and cold exposure, phenotypes indicative of increased Env triggerability. Infection of CD4-negative cells expressing the CCR5 coreceptor by these Env variants was triggered more efficiently by CD4mcs. For the panel of studied HIV-1 Envs, resistance to the CD4mcs was associated with decreased ability to support virus entry. These studies illustrate how variation in gp120 outside the CD4mc binding site can influence the sensitivity of natural HIV-1 strains to inhibition by these compounds. IMPORTANCECD4-mimetic compounds (CD4mcs) are small-molecule inhibitors of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1) entry into host cells. CD4mcs target a pocket on the viral envelope glycoprotein (Env) spike that is used for binding to the receptor, CD4, and is highly conserved among HIV-1 strains. Nonetheless, naturally occurring HIV-1 strains exhibit a wide range of sensitivities to CD4mcs. Our study identifies changes distant from the binding pocket that can influence the susceptibility of natural HIV-1 strains to the antiviral effects of multiple CD4mcs. We relate the antiviral potency of the CD4mc against this panel of HIV-1 variants to the ability of the CD4mc to activate entry-related changes in Env conformation prematurely. These findings will guide efforts to improve the potency and breadth of CD4mcs against natural HIV-1 variants.