Penetration of HIV into Host Cell
The
binding of a portion or domain of the HIV surface glycoprotein gp120 to a CD4
molecule on the host cell induces a change in shape that brings the chemokine
receptor binding domains of the gp120 into proximity with the host cell chemokine
receptor. This, in turn, brings about a conformational change that exposes a
previously buried portion of the transmembrane glycoprotein gp41 enabling the
viral envelope to fuse with the host cell membrane. After
fusion of the viral envelope with the host cell cytoplasmic membrane, the genome-containing
protein core of the virus enters the host cell's cytoplasm .
GIF Animation of HIV entering a T4-lymphocyte by Gary E. Kaiser, Ph.D.
Professor of Microbiology,
The Community College of Baltimore County, Catonsville Campus
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Based on a work at https://cwoer.ccbcmd.edu/science/microbiology/index_gos.html.
Last updated: Feb., 2018
Please send comments and inquiries to Dr.
Gary Kaiser