Abstract

Cyanovirin-N (CV-N), an 11-kDa protein from the cyanobacterium Nostoc ellipsosporum, is a highly potent virucidal agent that has generated interest as a lead natural product for the prevention and chemotherapy of human immunodeficiency virus infection. The antiviral activity of CV-N is mediated through specific, high-affinity interactions with the viral surface envelope glycoproteins. A number of structures of wild-type, mutant and sequence-shuffled CV-N have been solved by nuclear magnetic resonance and crystallography, showing that the protein exists as either a quasi-symmetric two-domain monomer or a domain-swapped dimer. Structures of several complexes of CV-N with oligosaccharides help in explaining the unique mode of high-affinity binding of these molecules to both forms of CV-N.

Talk to us

Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have

Schedule a call

Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.