Antibodies to CD4 in individuals infected with human immunodeficiency virus type 1.

The attachment of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) to target cells is mediated by a specific interaction between the viral envelope glycoprotein (gp120) and the CD4 receptor. Here we report that approximately 10% of HIV-1-infected individuals produce antibodies that recognize the extracellular portion of the CD4 molecule. Carboxyl-terminal deletions of CD4 that do not affect HIV-1 gp120 binding eliminate recognition of CD4 by patient antisera.

Glycosylation and processing of the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 envelope protein.

The human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) envelope protein is synthesized as a gp160 precursor that is cleaved to a 120 kDa exterior glycoprotein (gp120) and a 41 kDa transmembrane glycoprotein (gp41). The HIV-1 envelope protein was stably expressed under the control of the transactivator proteins tat and rev, in wild-type and mutant Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells. The mutant, ldlD, is conditionally defective for the addition of galactose and N-acetylgalactosamine to oligosaccharide chains.

Functional regions of the envelope glycoprotein of human immunodeficiency virus type 1.

The envelope of the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) plays a central role in the process of virus entry into the host cell and in the cytopathicity of the virus for lymphocytes bearing the CD4 molecule. Mutations that affect the ability of the envelope glycoprotein to form syncytia in CD4+ cells can be divided into five groups: those that decrease the binding of the envelope protein to the CD4 molecule, those that prevent a post-binding fusion reaction, those that disrupt the anchorage of the envelope glycoprotein in the membrane, those that affect the association of the two subunits of the envelope glycoprotein, and those that affect post-translational proteolytic processing of the envelope precursor protein. These findings provide a functional model of the HIV envelope glycoprotein.