Anti-HIV-1 activity of a new scorpion venom peptide derivative Kn2-7

For over 30 years, HIV/AIDS has wreaked havoc in the world. In the absence of an effective vaccine for HIV, development of new anti-HIV agents is urgently needed. We previously identified the antiviral activities of the scorpion-venom-peptide-derived mucroporin-M1 for three RNA viruses (measles viruses, SARS-CoV, and H5N1). In this investigation, a panel of scorpion venom peptides and their derivatives were designed and chosen for assessment of their anti-HIV activities. A new scorpion venom peptide derivative Kn2-7 was identified as the most potent anti-HIV-1 peptide by screening assays with an EC(50) value of 2.76 μg/ml (1.65 μM) and showed low cytotoxicity to host cells with a selective index (SI) of 13.93. Kn2-7 could inhibit all members of a standard reference panel of HIV-1 subtype B pseudotyped virus (PV) with CCR5-tropic and CXCR4-tropic NL4-3 PV strain. Furthermore, it also inhibited a CXCR4-tropic replication-competent strain of HIV-1 subtype B virus. Binding assay of Kn2-7 to HIV-1 PV by Octet Red system suggested the anti-HIV-1 activity was correlated with a direct interaction between Kn2-7 and HIV-1 envelope. These results demonstrated that peptide Kn2-7 could inhibit HIV-1 by direct interaction with viral particle and may become a promising candidate compound for further development of microbicide against HIV-1.     

Anti-HIV-1 activity and structure–activity-relationship study of a fucosylated glycosaminoglycan from an echinoderm by targeting the conserved CD4 induced epitope

Background

Fucosylated glycosaminoglycan (FG) is a novel glycosaminoglycan with a chondroitin sulfate-like backbone and fucose sulfate branches. The aim of this study is to investigate the mechanism and structure–activity relationships (SAR) of FG for combating HIV-1 infection.

Methods

Anti-HIV activities of FGs were assessed by a cytopathic effect assay and an HIV-1 p24 detection assay. The biomolecule interactions were explored via biolayer interferometry technology. The SAR was established by comparing its anti-HIV-1 activities, conserved CD4 induced (CD4i) epitope-dependent interactions and anticoagulant activities.

Results

FG efficiently and selectively inhibited the X4- and R5X4-tropic HIV-1 infections in C8166 cells with little cytotoxicity against C8166 cells and PBMCs. Our data indicated that FG bound to gp120 with nanomolar affinity and may interact with CD4i of gp120. Additionally, the CD4i binding affinity of FG was higher than that of dextran sulfate. SAR studies suggested that the unique sulfated fucose branches account for the anti-HIV-1 activity. The molecular size and present carboxyl groups of FG may also play important roles in various activities. Notably, several FG derivatives showed higher anti-HIV-1 activities and much lower anticoagulant activities than those of heparin.

Conclusions

FG exhibits strong activity against X4- and R5X4-tropic HIV-1 infections. The mechanism may be related to targeting CD4i of gp120, which results in inhibition of HIV-1 entry. The carboxyl group substituted derivatives of FG (8.5–12.8 kDa), might display high anti-HIV-1 activity and low anticoagulant activity.

General significance

Our data supports further the investigation of FG derivatives as novel HIV-1 entry inhibitors targeting CD4i.     

Antibacterial activity of peptides derived from envelope glycoproteins of HIV-1

Recent reports have highlighted the anti-HIV-1 activities of defensins, whose structure and charge resemble portions of the HIV-1 transmembrane envelope glycoprotein gp41. The current report explores the obverse, whether peptides derived from HIV-1 envelope glycoproteins can exert antimicrobial activity. Fifteen-residue peptides spanning the entire sequence of HIV-1(MN) gp120 and gp41 were subjected to radial diffusion assays against laboratory strains of Escherichia coli and Listeria monocytogenes. Twenty-four active peptides corresponded predominantly to membrane-active domains of gp120 and gp41. Several peptides retained significant activity in higher ionic conditions and may serve as templates for the development of novel peptide antibiotics. The strategies employed herein could uncover additional antimicrobial peptides from envelope proteins of other lytic viruses.     

Actinohivin, a novel anti-human immunodeficiency virus protein from an actinomycete, inhibits viral entry to cells by binding high-mannose type sugar chains of gp120

We searched human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) entry inhibitors and found a novel anti-HIV protein, actinohivin (AH), in a culture filtrate of the newly discovered genus actinomycete Longispora albida gen. nov., sp. nov. This paper deals with the mechanism of action of the anti-HIV activity of AH. AH exhibited potent anti-HIV activities against various strains of HIV-1 and HIV-2. AH bound to the glycoprotein gp120 of various strains of HIV-1 and gp130 of simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV), but did not bind to non-glycosylated gp120 nor to cells having CD4 and coreceptors, suggesting that AH inhibits viral entry to cells by binding to the envelope glycoprotein. The investigation of the effects of various sugars on AH-gp120 binding by ELISA revealed that yeast mannan alone strongly inhibited the binding (IC50 = 3.0 microg/ml). Experiments investigating the binding of AH to other glycoproteins revealed that AH binds to ribonuclease B and thyroglobulin that have a high-mannose type saccharide chain, but not to other glycoproteins having a N-glycoside type saccharide chain. The above results indicate that high-mannose type saccharide chains of gp120 are molecular targets of AH in its anti-HIV activity.     

Discovery of small-molecule human immunodeficiency virus type 1 entry inhibitors that target the gp120-binding domain of CD4

The interaction between human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) gp120 and the CD4 receptor is highly specific and involves relatively small contact surfaces on both proteins according to crystal structure analysis. This molecularly conserved interaction presents an excellent opportunity for antiviral targeting. Here we report a group of pentavalent antimony-containing small molecule compounds, NSC 13778 (molecular weight, 319) and its analogs, which exert a potent anti-HIV activity. These compounds block the entry of X4-, R5-, and X4/R5-tropic HIV-1 strains into CD4(+) cells but show little or no activity in CD4-negative cells or against vesicular stomatitis virus-G pseudotyped virions. The compounds compete with gp120 for binding to CD4: either immobilized on a solid phase (soluble CD4) or on the T-cell surface (native CD4 receptor) as determined by a competitive gp120 capture enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay or flow cytometry. NSC 13778 binds to an N-terminal two-domain CD4 protein, D1/D2 CD4, immobilized on a surface plasmon resonance sensor chip, and dose dependently reduces the emission intensity of intrinsic tryptophan fluorescence of D1/D2 CD4, which contains two of the three tryptophan residues in the gp120-binding domain. Furthermore, T cells incubated with the compounds alone show decreased reactivity to anti-CD4 monoclonal antibodies known to recognize the gp120-binding site. In contrast to gp120-binders that inhibit gp120-CD4 interaction by binding to gp120, these compounds appear to disrupt gp120-CD4 contact by targeting the specific gp120-binding domain of CD4. NSC 13778 may represent a prototype of a new class of HIV-1 entry inhibitors that can break into the gp120-CD4 interface and mask the gp120-binding site on the CD4 molecules, effectively repelling incoming virions.     

Sulfated fibroin, a novel sulfated peptide derived from silk, inhibits human immunodeficiency virus replication in vitro

We prepared two kinds of sulfated silk fibroins, SclFib30 and SclFib31, which contain different amounts of sulfate. These sulfated silk fibroins have anti-HIV-1 activity in vitro, apparently due to interference with the adsorption of virus particles to CD4+ cells, and completely blocked virus binding to the cells at a concentration of 100 microg/ml. Sulfated fibroins also abolished cell-to-cell infection-induced syncytium formation upon cocultivation of MOLT-4 and MOLT-4/HIV-IIIB cells, suggesting that they would interfere with gp120 and prevent the formation of gp120/CD4 complex. Silk is used in biomaterials such as surgical sutures and is believed to be a safe material for humans. In accordance with low anticoagulant activity and high anti-HIV-1 activity against both X4 HIV-1 and R5 HIV-1 strains, sulfated silk fibroins have potential as antiviral material such for a vaginal anti-HIV formulation.     

Sulfated Fibroin,a Novel Sulfated Peptide Derived from Silk,Inhibits Human Immunodeficiency Virus Replication in Vitro

We prepared two kinds of sulfated silk fibroins, SclFib30 and SclFib31, which contain different amounts of sulfate. These sulfated silk fibroins have anti-HIV-1 activity in vitro, apparently due to interference with the adsorption of virus particles to CD4⁺ cells, and completely blocked virus binding to the cells at a concentration of 100 μg/ml. Sulfated fibroins also abolished cell-to-cell infection-induced syncytium formation upon cocultivation of MOLT-4 and MOLT-4/HIV-1_IIIB cells, suggesting that they would interfere with gp120 and prevent the formation of gp120/CD4 complex. Silk is used in biomaterials such as surgical sutures and is believed to be a safe material for humans. In accordance with low anticoagulant activity and high anti-HIV-1 activity against both X4 HIV-1 and R5 HIV-1 strains, sulfated silk fibroins have potential as antiviral material such for a vaginal anti-HIV formulation.     

CCR5 N-terminus peptides enhance X4 HIV-1 infection by CXCR4 up-regulation

The HIV-1 envelope glycoprotein gp120 interacts consecutively with CD4 and CCR5 to mediate the entry of R5-HIV-1 strains into target cells. The N-terminus of CCR5, which contains several sulfated tyrosines, plays a critical role in gp120-CCR5 binding and, consequently, in viral entry. Here, we demonstrate that a tyrosine sulfated peptide, reproducing the entire N-terminal extracellular region of CCR5, its unsulfated analogue, and a point-mutated peptide are unable to inhibit R5-HIV-1 mediated infection, competing with the entire CCR5 in the formation of gp120-CD4-CCR5 complex. Surprisingly, these peptides show the capability of enhancing HIV-1 infection caused by X4 strains through the up-regulation of both CD4 and CXCR4 receptors.     

人类免疫缺陷病毒1／2型抗体检测酶联免疫试剂盒的研制

采用二聚体合成肽（ＨＩＶ－１ｇｐ４１、ｇｐ１２０、ｐ２４和ＨＩＶ－２ｇｐ３６）包被酶标板条制备成固相抗原,与鼠抗人ＩｇＧ单克隆抗体酶标记物、底物ＴＭＢ及阴阳性参考血清配套制备成ＨＩＶ抗体ＥＩＡ试剂盒,专供检测人血清或血浆ＨＩＶ１／２抗体之用。以荷兰、韩国及万泰试剂作为对照,用该试剂盒对检定所的Ｐａｎｅｌ标准及献血员１５５５０例（其中ＨＣＶ抗体阳性１２８例,ＨＢｓＡｇ阳性４６例）进行检测,四种试剂对检定所Ｐａｎｅｌ标准的１３份阳性血清均呈阳性反应,２８份阴性血清均为阴性;献血员１５５５０例,四种试剂对其中１份血清均呈阳性反应,经Ｗｅｓｔｅｒｎｂｌｏｔ试验证实为阴性,四种试剂的阴性检出率均为９９．９９％。连续制备三批试剂经中国药品生物制品检定所检定,所检项目全部合格;同时委托检定所进行临床考核,４７份阳性血清全部呈阳性反应,１５０份阴性血清全部为阴性。说明该试剂盒具有很好的敏感性和特异性。     

Inhibitors of protein-disulfide isomerase prevent cleavage of disulfide bonds in receptor-bound glycoprotein 120 and prevent HIV-1 entry

We previously reported that monoclonal antibodies to protein-disulfide isomerase (PDI) and other membrane-impermeant PDI inhibitors prevented HIV-1 infection. PDI is present at the surface of HIV-1 target cells and reduces disulfide bonds in a model peptide attached to the cell membrane. Here we show that soluble PDI cleaves disulfide bonds in recombinant envelope glycoprotein gp120 and that gp120 bound to the surface receptor CD4 undergoes a disulfide reduction that is prevented by PDI inhibitors. Concentrations of inhibitors that prevent this reduction and inhibit the cleavage of surface-bound disulfide conjugate prevent infection at the level of HIV-1 entry. The entry of HIV-1 strains differing in their coreceptor specificities is similarly inhibited, and so is the reduction of gp120 bound to CD4 of coreceptor-negative cells. PDI inhibitors also prevent HIV envelope-mediated cell-cell fusion but have no effect on the entry of HIV-1 pseudo-typed with murine leukemia virus envelope. Importantly, PDI coprecipitates with both soluble and cellular CD4. We propose that a PDI.CD4 association at the cell surface enables PDI to reach CD4-bound virus and to reduce disulfide bonds present in the domain of gp120 that binds to CD4. Conformational changes resulting from the opening of gp120-disulfide loops may drive the processes of virus-cell and cell-cell fusion. The biochemical events described identify new potential targets for anti-HIV agents.     

Dendritic cells preferentially transfer CXCR4-using human immunodeficiency virus type 1 variants to CD4+ T lymphocytes in trans

Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) preferentially utilizes the CCR5 coreceptor for target cell entry in the acute phase of infection, while later in disease progression the virus switches to the CXCR4 coreceptor in approximately 50% of patients. In response to HIV-1 the adaptive immune response is triggered, and antibody (Ab) production is elicited to block HIV-1 entry. We recently determined that dendritic cells (DCs) can efficiently capture Ab-neutralized HIV-1, restore infectivity, and transmit infectious virus to target cells. Here, we tested the effect of Abs on trans transmission of CCR5 or CXCR4 HIV-1 variants. We observed that transmission of HIV-1 by immature as well as mature DCs was significantly higher for CXCR4- than CCR5-tropic viral strains. Additionally, neutralizing Abs directed against either the gp41 or gp120 region of the envelope such as 2F5, 4E10, and V3-directed Abs inhibited transmission of CCR5-tropic HIV-1, whereas Ab-treated CXCR4-tropic virus demonstrated unaltered or increased transmission. To further study the effects of coreceptor usage we tested molecularly cloned HIV-1 variants with modifications in the envelope that were based on longitudinal gp120 V1 and V3 variable loop sequences from a patient progressing to AIDS. We observed that DCs preferentially facilitated infection of CD4⁺ T lymphocytes of viral strains with an envelope phenotype found late in disease. Taken together, our results illustrate that DCs transmit CXCR4-tropic HIV-1 much more efficiently than CCR5 strains; we hypothesize that this discrimination could contribute to the in vivo coreceptor switch after seroconversion and could be responsible for the increase in viral load.     

Peptides from second extracellular loop of C-C chemokine receptor type 5 (CCR5) inhibit diverse strains of HIV-1

To initiate HIV entry, the HIV envelope protein gp120 must engage its primary receptor CD4 and a coreceptor CCR5 or CXCR4. In the absence of a high resolution structure of a gp120-coreceptor complex, biochemical studies of CCR5 have revealed the importance of its N terminus and second extracellular loop (ECL2) in binding gp120 and mediating viral entry. Using a panel of synthetic CCR5 ECL2-derived peptides, we show that the C-terminal portion of ECL2 (2C, comprising amino acids Cys-178 to Lys-191) inhibit HIV-1 entry of both CCR5- and CXCR4-using isolates at low micromolar concentrations. In functional viral assays, these peptides inhibited HIV-1 entry in a CD4-independent manner. Neutralization assays designed to measure the effects of CCR5 ECL2 peptides when combined with either with the small molecule CD4 mimetic NBD-556, soluble CD4, or the CCR5 N terminus showed additive inhibition for each, indicating that ECL2 binds gp120 at a site distinct from that of N terminus and acts independently of CD4. Using saturation transfer difference NMR, we determined the region of CCR5 ECL2 used for binding gp120, showed that it can bind to gp120 from both R5 and X4 isolates, and demonstrated that the peptide interacts with a CD4-gp120 complex in a similar manner as to gp120 alone. As the CCR5 N terminus-gp120 interactions are dependent on CD4 activation, our data suggest that gp120 has separate binding sites for the CCR5 N terminus and ECL2, the ECL2 binding site is present prior to CD4 engagement, and it is conserved across CCR5- and CXCR4-using strains. These peptides may serve as a starting point for the design of inhibitors with broad spectrum anti-HIV activity.     

Isolation and characterization of anti-HIV peptides from Dorstenia contrajerva and Treculia obovoidea

Using a high throughput screen based on the interaction of the HIV-1 gp41 ectodomain with the virucidal protein cyanovirin-N (CV-N), we isolated two new peptides which inhibited the binding of CV-N to gp41 and which subsequently showed anti-HIV activity in a whole cell assay. A 5-kDa (contrajervin) and 10 kDa (treculavirin) peptide were isolated from Dorstenia contrajerva and Treculia obovoidea, respectively. Treculavirin was composed of two subunits, each containing 50 amino acid residues, which are covalently linked by at least one disulfide bond between the subunits. Both peptides were shown to bind to gp41 and gp120 and to inhibit the cytopathic effects of HIV-1(RF) infection in a human T-lymphoblastoid cell line (CEM-SS).     

Peptides derived from a distinct region of GB virus C glycoprotein E2 mediate strain-specific HIV-1 entry inhibition

The nonpathogenic human GB virus C (GBV-C), a member of the Flaviviridae, is highly prevalent in individuals with HIV-1 infections or with parenteral and sexual risk factors. Long-term GBV-C viremia has been associated with better survival or improved diagnosis in several epidemiological studies. In a previous study we reported that the E2 glycoprotein of GBV-C interferes with HIV-1 entry in vitro. To address the question what region of the E2 protein is involved in suppression of HIV-1 replication, we performed an E2-derived peptide scanning and determined the HIV-inhibitory activity of each peptide in HIV replication assays. We demonstrate here that peptides representing the N-terminal part of the E2 protein from amino acids (aa) 29 to 72 are able to inhibit efficiently HIV-1 replication in vitro. In particular, the peptides P6-2 (representing the E2-region from aa 45 to 64) and P4762 (aa 37 to 64) showed the highest potency in HIV replication assays performed on TZM-bl cells with 50% inhibitory concentrations between 0.1 and 2 μM. However, primary HIV-1 isolates representing clades A to H showed a high variability in their sensitivity to E2 peptides. Pseudovirus inhibition assays revealed that the sensitivity is determined by the gp120/gp41 envelope proteins. Using HIV-1 BlaM-Vpr-based fusion assays, we demonstrate that the E2-derived peptides prevent HIV-1 binding or fusion, presumably via interaction with the HIV-1 particle. Together, these findings reveal a new mechanism of viral interference, suggesting that the envelope protein E2 of GBV-C target directly HIV-1 particles to avoid entry of these virions.     

Pradimicin A, a carbohydrate-binding nonpeptidic lead compound for treatment of infections with viruses with highly glycosylated envelopes, such as human immunodeficiency virus

Pradimicin A (PRM-A), an antifungal nonpeptidic benzonaphtacenequinone antibiotic, is a low-molecular-weight (molecular weight, 838) carbohydrate binding agent (CBA) endowed with a selective inhibitory activity against human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). It invariably inhibits representative virus strains of a variety of HIV-1 clades with X4 and R5 tropisms at nontoxic concentrations. Time-of-addition studies revealed that PRM-A acts as a true virus entry inhibitor. PRM-A specifically interacts with HIV-1 gp120 and efficiently prevents virus transmission in cocultures of HUT-78/HIV-1 and Sup T1 cells. Upon prolonged exposure of HIV-1-infected CEM cell cultures, PRM-A drug pressure selects for mutant HIV-1 strains containing N-glycosylation site deletions in gp120 but not gp41. A relatively long exposure time to PRM-A is required before drug-resistant virus strains emerge. PRM-A has a high genetic barrier, since more than five N-glycosylation site deletions in gp120 are required to afford moderate drug resistance. Such mutated virus strains keep full sensitivity to the other known clinically used anti-HIV drugs. PRM-A represents the first prototype compound of a nonpeptidic CBA lead and, together with peptide-based lectins, belongs to a conceptually novel type of potential therapeutics for which drug pressure results in the selection of glycan deletions in the HIV gp120 envelope.     

A conserved molecular action of native and recombinant Epap-1 in inhibition of HIV-1 gp120 mediated viral entry

The early expression of Epap-1 (early pregnancy associated protein), a 90 kDa anti-HIV-1 active glycoprotein, in the first trimester placental tissue suggests that it is one of the innate immune factors/proteins protecting the fetus from HIV infections. In the present investigation, we have cloned and expressed Epap-1 in bacterial and baculovirus expression systems. The recombinant Epap-1 as well as native Epap-1 shows a conserved molecular mode of action. These proteins exhibit significant antiviral activity and inhibit the cell fusion reaction between gp120 expressing HeLa (HL2/3) cells and T cell line (SupT1). Further, the rhodamine labeled Epap-1 specifically bound to gp120 expressed on the surface of HL2/3 cells during fusion reaction thereby inhibiting viral entry. Analysis of the interacting gp120 epitopes revealed that Epap-1 binds specifically to epitopes of gp120, recognizing constant-5 (C5) region and the variable-3 (V3) epitope of gp120 expressed on HL2/3 cells; It exhibits specific interaction with C5 region of cell-free virus in four HIV-1 isolates suggesting that the molecular interaction of Epap-1 is specific and is highly conserved in binding to gp120 leading to inhibition of viral entry. Epap-1 can thus be a very efficient natural protection mechanism against cell-free and cell-associated viral infections during early pregnancy.     

Inhibition of HIV-1 infection by synthetic peptides derived CCR5 fragments

HIV-1 infection requires interaction of viral envelope protein gp160 with CD4 and a chemokine receptor, CCR5 or CXCR4 as entry coreceptor. We designed HIV-inhibitory peptides targeted to CCR5 using a novel computer program (ANTIS), which searched all possible sense-antisense amino acid pairs between proteins. Seven AHBs were found in CCR5 receptor. All AHB peptides were synthesized and tested for their ability to prevent HIV-1 infection to human T cells. A peptide fragment (LC5) which is a part of the CCR5 receptor corresponding to the loop between the fifth and sixth transmembrane regions (amino acids 222-240) proved to inhibit HIV-1IIIB infection of MT-4 cells. Interaction of these antisense peptides could be involved in sustaining HIV-1 infectivity. LC5 effectively indicated dose-dependent manner, and the suppression was enhanced additively by T20 peptide, which inhibits infection in vitro by disrupting the gp41 conformational changes necessary for membrane fusion. Thus, these results indicate that CCR5-derived AHB peptides could provide a useful tool to define the mechanism(s) of HIV infection, and may provide insight which will contribute to the development of an anti-HIV-1 reagent.     

Nef stimulates human immunodeficiency virus type 1 replication in primary T cells by enhancing virion-associated gp120 levels: coreceptor-dependent requirement for Nef in viral replication

The Nef protein enhances human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) replication through an unknown mechanism. We and others have previously reported that efficient HIV-1 replication in activated primary CD4(+) T cells depends on the ability of Nef to downregulate CD4 from the cell surface. Here we demonstrate that Nef greatly enhances the infectivity of HIV-1 particles produced in primary T cells. Nef-defective HIV-1 particles contained significantly reduced quantities of gp120 on their surface; however, Nef did not affect the levels of virion-associated gp41, indicating that Nef indirectly stabilizes the association of gp120 with gp41. Surprisingly, Nef was not required for efficient replication of viruses that use CCR5 for entry, nor did Nef influence the infectivity or gp120 content of these virions. Nef also inhibited the incorporation of CD4 into HIV-1 particles released from primary T cells. We propose that Nef, by downregulating cell surface CD4, enhances HIV-1 replication by inhibiting CD4-induced dissociation of gp120 from gp41. The preferential requirement for Nef in the replication of X4-tropic HIV-1 suggests that the ability of Nef to downregulate CD4 may be most important at later stages of disease when X4-tropic viruses emerge.     

Blocking HIV-1 entry by a gp120 surface binding inhibitor

We report the mode of action of a proteomimetic compound that binds to the exterior surface of gp120 and blocks HIV-1 entry into cells. Using a one cycle time-of-addition study and antibody competition binding studies, we have determined that the compound blocks HIV-1 entry through modulation of key protein-protein interactions mediated by gp120. The compound exhibits anti-HIV-1 replication activities against several pseudotype viruses derived from primary isolates and the resistant strains isolated from existing drug candidates with equal potency. Together, these data provide evidence that the proteomimetic compound represents a novel class of HIV-1 viral entry inhibitor that functions through protein surface recognition in analogy to an antibody.     

Peptide Ligands to Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 gp120 Identified from Phage Display Libraries

We have used phage-displayed peptide libraries to identify novel ligands to the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) envelope glycoprotein gp120. Screening of libraries of random 12-mers, 7-mers, and cyclic 9-mers produced two families of gp120 binding peptides. Members of a family with the prototype sequence RINNIPWSEAMM (peptide 12p1) inhibit the interaction between gp120 and both four-domain soluble CD4 (4dCD4) and monoclonal antibody (MAb) 17b, a neutralizing antibody that covers the chemokine receptor binding surface on gp120. Peptide 12p1 inhibits the interaction of 4dCD4 with gp120 from three different HIV strains, implying that it binds to a conserved site on gp120. Members of a second family of peptides, with the prototype sequence TSPYEDWQTYLM (peptide 12p2), bind more weakly to gp120. They do not detectably affect its interaction with 4dCD4, but they enhance its binding to MAb 17b. A common sequence motif in the two peptide families and cross-competition for gp120 binding suggest that they have overlapping contacts. Their divergent effects on the affinity of gp120 for MAb 17b may indicate that their binding stabilizes distinct conformational states of gp120. The functional properties of 12p1 suggest that it might be a useful lead for the development of inhibitors of HIV entry.