About Anti-gp41 (HIV-1/Clade B) Rabbit Polyclonal Antibody

The HIV-1 transmembrane glycoprotein gp41 is the membrane-anchored subunit of the viral envelope (Env) complex and is generated by proteolytic cleavage of the gp160 precursor into gp120 and gp41. While gp120 mediates attachment to the CD4 receptor and chemokine co-receptors, gp41 is responsible for driving fusion of the viral and host cell membranes, an essential step required for HIV-1 entry. Because gp41 is highly conserved among HIV-1 isolates and contains several important neutralizing epitopes, it has become an important target for studies of viral entry, fusion inhibition, vaccine development, and therapeutic antibody discovery.

eEnzyme's Anti-gp41 (HIV-1/Clade B) Rabbit Polyclonal Antibody is generated by in vivo genetic immunization using an in vivo expressed HIV-1 Clade B gp41 antigen, producing high-affinity antibodies that recognize the native conformation of the viral envelope glycoprotein. This immunization strategy promotes immune responses against correctly folded and naturally presented gp41, resulting in excellent recognition of native and recombinant proteins. The antibody is immunogen affinity-purified, specifically reacts with HIV-1 Clade B gp41, and is suitable for Western blotting, ELISA, immunofluorescence (IF), immunocytochemistry (ICC), immunoprecipitation (IP), and other immunological assays. It provides a valuable reagent for HIV envelope protein characterization, fusion studies, vaccine development, and antiviral research.

Applications

Biological Significance of HIV-1 gp41

HIV-1 gp41 is the viral fusion protein that mediates membrane fusion following gp120 interaction with CD4 and CCR5/CXCR4. Receptor binding induces conformational rearrangements within gp41 that expose its fusion peptide, allowing insertion into the host cell membrane and formation of the characteristic six-helix bundle, which brings the viral and cellular membranes together to complete membrane fusion. Because this mechanism is highly conserved, gp41 has become a major target for fusion inhibitor drugs, including enfuvirtide (T-20), as well as for the development of broadly neutralizing antibodies and next-generation HIV vaccines. Antibodies recognizing gp41 are therefore indispensable tools for investigating HIV entry mechanisms, monitoring recombinant protein expression, characterizing vaccine antigens, and supporting HIV molecular virology and therapeutic research.