Proteins Involved in Adsorption

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Proteins Involved in Adsorption

  • The joining of the HIV and the host cell involves a spike on the HIV envelope and a CD4 molecule on the T-lymphocyte, macrophage, or brain cell.
  • The molecule on the HIV spike is called glycoprotein 120 or gp120. The "120" refers to the molecular weight of the glycoprotein.
  • While the CD4 site is important in viral binding, there is evidence that there are other molecules called co-receptors also involved.
  • These molecules are embedded in the membranes of T-lymphocytes, macrophages, and brain cells. In the T-lymphocyte the abbreviated name of the protein molecule is CXCR4.