Mobility of the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Receptor CD4 and Coreceptor CCR5 in Living Cells: Implications for HIV Fusion and Entry Events

Abstract

The sequence of events leading to human immunodeficiency virus fusion and entry likely involves the recruitment of multiple receptor and coreceptor proteins to a specific complex by the viral envelope. Using fluorescence recovery after photobleaching technology, we find that both CD4 and CCR5 are mobile in the cell membrane. Interestingly, our findings also suggest that the seven-span transmembrane coreceptor is significantly more mobile than CD4 and requires membrane cholesterol for mobility.