Introduction | HIV-1 and HIV-2 appear to package their RNA differently. HIV-1 binds to any appropriate RNA whereas HIV-2 preferentially binds to mRNA which creates the Gag protein itself. This means that HIV-1 is better able to mutate. HIV-2 is transmitted in the same ways as HIV-1: Through exposure to bodily fluids such as blood, semen, tears and vaginal fluids. Immunodeficiency develops more slowly with HIV-2. HIV-2 is less infectious in the early stages of the virus than with HIV-1. The infectiousness of HIV-2 increases as the virus progresses. Major differences include reduced pathogenicity of HIV-2 relative to HIV-1, enhanced immune control of HIV-2 infection and often some degree of CD4-independence. Despite considerable sequence and phenotypic differences between HIV-1 and 2 envelopes, structurally they are quite similar. Both membrane-anchored proteins eventually form the 6-helix bundles from the N-terminal and C-terminal regions of the ectodomain, which is common to many viral and cellular fusion proteins and which seems to drive fusion. HIV-1 gp41 helical regions can form more stable 6-helix bundles than HIV-2 gp41 helical regions however HIV-2 fusion occurs at a lower threshold temperature (25°C), does not require Ca2+ in the medium, is insensitive to treatment of target cells with cytochalasin B, and is not affected by target membrane glycosphingolipid composition. |
Description | HIV-2 Envelope recombinant- composes all of the reported immunogenic determinants found in gp39. The gene encoding this fusion protein was synthesized using codons optimized for E.coli expression and doesn’t represent a linear HIV-2 envelope sequence. HIV-2 is a non-glycosylated, 135 amino acids polypeptide chain, having a molecular mass of 16,127 Dalton, P.I=5.17. |
Source | Escherichia Coli. |
Physical Appearance | Sterile filtered colorless clear solution. |
Formulation | 50mM Tris-HCL & 6M urea, pH-7. |
2 Purity | Greater than 95.0% as determined by HPLC analysis and SDS-PAGE. |
Stability | HIV-2 Envelope protein is shipped at ambient temperature. Upon arrival, Store at -20°C Stable for Five years frozen. One month in solution at room temperature. |
Specificity | Immunoreactive with all sera of HIV-2 infected individuals. |
Applications | HIV-2 Envelope antigen in ELISA and Western blots, excellent antigen for early detection of HIV seroconvertors with minimal specificity problems. |
Usage | ProSpec's products are furnished for LABORATORY RESEARCH USE ONLY. The product may not be used as drugs, agricultural or pesticidal products, food additives or household chemicals. |