Identification of immunoglobulin recombination elements in human immunodeficiency virus type 1 envelope gene

Abstract Recently, it has been recognised that the amino acid motif VQL(N/V)ES is shared between the second conserved domain of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) envelope glycoprotein (gp120) and the first framework (FW1) of human IgG heavy chain variable region (subgroup III) (V H III). We have found that nucleotide sequence corresponding to this motif contains some recombination elements characteristic for the genes of human Ig heavy-chain variable region. The possible role of the Ig recombination elements in HIV-1 envelope gene variability, AIDS pathogenesis and vaccine design is discussed.