Identification and characterization of conserved and variable regions in the envelope gene of HTLV-III/LAV, the retrovirus of AIDS
Open accessAbstract
To determine the extent and nature of genetic variation present in independent isolates of HTLV-III/LAV, the nucleotide sequences of the entire envelope gene and parts of gag and pol were determined for two AIDS viruses. The results indicated that variation throughout the viral genome is extensive and that the envelope gene in particular is most highly variable. Within the envelope, changes were most prevalent within the extracellular region where clustered nucleotide substitutions and deletions/insertions were evident. Based on predicted secondary protein structure and hydrophilicity, these hypervariable regions represent potential antigenic sites. In contrast to the hypervariable regions, other sequences in the extracellular envelope and the overall envelope structure (including 18 of 18 cysteine residues), as well as most of the transmembrane region, were highly conserved.
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HIV-1 is more error-prone than HTLV and BLV because it replicates actively.
“making them error-prone, especially for actively replicating retroviruses such as HIV-1 compared to others, such as HTLV and BLV”
From Beyond reverse transcription: molecular mechanisms and emerging paradigms in retroviral replication (2026) · cites this paper as Starcich et al. 1986
Retroviral RTs lack proofreading mechanisms such as 3′ exonuclease activity, making them error-prone.
“The low fidelity of RT is primarily because retroviral RTs lack proofreading mechanisms (such as 3′ exonuclease activity), making them error-prone, especially for actively replicating retroviruses such as HIV-1 compared to others, such as HTLV and BLV (Battula and Loeb 1976, Starcich et al. 1986, Preston et al. 1988, Ratner et al. 1991, Dube et al. 1993, Willems et al. 1993).”
From Beyond reverse transcription: molecular mechanisms and emerging paradigms in retroviral replication (2026) · cites this paper as Starcich et al. 1986
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Structural definition of a conserved neutralization epitope on HIV-1 gp120
Zhou, T., Xu, L., Dey, B., Hessell, A. J., Van Ryk, D., Xiang, S.-H., Yang, X., Zhang, M.-Y., Zwick, M. B., Arthos, J., et al. (2007) · Nature · doi:10.1038/nature05580 · Cited by 770 · see citing works
Beyond reverse transcription: molecular mechanisms and emerging paradigms in retroviral replication
Jehad, M. A., Ali, L. M., Pillai, V. N., Prabhu, S. G., Mustafa, F., & Rizvi, T. A. (2026) · FEMS Microbiology Reviews · doi:10.1093/femsre/fuaf066 · Cited by 5 · see citing works
“…(such as 3 exonuclease activity), making them error-prone, especially for actively replicating retro-viruses such as HIV-1 compared to others, such as HTLV and BLV (Battula and Loeb 1976 , Starcich et al. 1986 , Preston et al. 1988 , Rat-ner et al. 1991 , Dube et al. 1993 , Willems et al. 1993 ).”
- Authors
- Starcich, B. R., Hahn, B. H., Shaw, G. M., McNeely, P. D., Modrow, S., Wolf, H., Parks, E. S., Parks, W. P., Josephs, S. F., Gallo, R. C., & Wong-Staal, F.
- Affiliations
- National Institutes of Health (US)
- University of Alabama (US)
- Max-von-Pettenkofer-Institut für Hygiene und Medizinische Mikrobiologie (DE)
- University of Miami (US)
- Venue
- Cell
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 1986-06
- Volume
- 45
- Issue
- 5
- Pages
- 637-648
- ISSN
- 0092-8674 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2110917275
- Cited by
- 767
- References
- 0
- Citations by year
- 2026: 3 · 2025: 3 · 2024: 1 · 2023: 4 · 2022: 6 · 2021: 11 · 2020: 6 · 2019: 14 · 2018: 11 · 2017: 17 · 2016: 9 · 2015: 11 · 2014: 13 · 2013: 20 · 2012: 19
- FWCI
- 15.00
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- doi.org
- Locations
- Cell (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- University of Regensburg Publication Server (University of Regensburg) (acceptedVersion)
- University of Regensburg Publication Server (University of Regensburg)
- Funders
- National Cancer Institute (P30CA013148)
- National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (U01AI023616, AI-21122, 1 U01 AI 23616-01)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Immunology and Microbiology › Virology › HIV Research and Treatment
- Life Sciences › Immunology and Microbiology › Immunology › T-cell and Retrovirus Studies
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Infectious Diseases › HIV/AIDS drug development and treatment
- Keywords
- HTLV-III, HIV-1, env gene, genetic variation, hypervariable region, conserved domains, gag gene, pol gene, antigenic determinants, cysteine residues, transmembrane domain, nucleotide substitution, indels, protein secondary structure, hydrophilicity
- MeSH terms
- Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, Amino Acid Sequence, Base Sequence, Genes, Viral, Nucleic Acid Conformation, Retroviridae Proteins, RNA-Directed DNA Polymerase, Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid, Genetic Variation, Viral Envelope Proteins, Viral Proteins, Gene Products, gag, Deltaretrovirus
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