Extensive C-terminal deletion in human immunodeficiency virus type 1 Env glycoprotein arising after long-term culture of chronically infected cells.

Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) chronically infected (CI) cell lines were established from HIV-1HIB/LAI-infected MT-4 cells that survived acute infection. The HIV env gene expressed in the two long-term cultured cell lines differed from that of the lines cultured for shorter periods, by coding for a glycoprotein gp 160 that had the C terminus deleted. One long-term cultured cell line, CI-17, was studied in detail.