How do viruses enter cells? The HIV coreceptors teach us a lesson of complexity

Article Abstract:

The discovery of cytokine receptors functioning as coreceptors in the entry of HIV in cells has generated many questions regarding the complexity of viral entry. The entrance of viruses in cellular systems is a multistage, multifactorial process that is poorly understood. To this end, prominent researchers and investigators met and discussed viral entry at a conference held from Sep 21-24, 1997 entitled The Cell Biology of Viral Entry. Among the topics addressed in this conference are three-dimensional viral structures, receptors and fusion kinetics.

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SNAREpins: minimal machinery for membrane fusion

Article Abstract:

Research was conducted to test whether SNARE proteins are enough for membrane pairing and for lipid bilayer fusion. Vesicles were determined by flotation in a Nycodenz step gradient while the cytoplasmic t-SNARE complex was purified from cells carrying two plasmids in an identical manner. Results showed that the majority of the v and t-SNARE proteins associated with their cytoplasmic domains on the outside of the vesicles and assembled into a stable complex when they were mixed in detergent solutions.

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Cell biology of virus entry

Article Abstract:

Research has been conducted on the molecular organization of cell membranes. Interactions of the viral proteins with receptor molecules have been investigated to understand the virus entry mechanism.

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