The envelope protein is an important determinant of HIV-1 cell-specifi
c tropism. The gp160 envelope precursor proteins from macrophage-tropi
c or T lymphoid cell line-tropic strains of HIV-1 were expressed in re
combinant vaccinia virus-infected cell lines or primary lymphocytes or
macrophages. No significant differences in the kinetics of synthesis
of gp160, processing into gp120 and gp41 proteins, N-linked glycosylat
ion, or release of gp120 into the medium were noted with the different
envelope proteins. However, gp120 envelope protein shed into the medi
um was found to be at least partially cleaved at a site within the V3
loop. The gp120 envelope proteins from macrophage-tropic isolates exhi
bited lower rates of cleavage than those from lymphoid cell line-tropi
c strains in all cell types examined. Cell-free protease digestion stu
dies also demonstrated relative resistance of the envelopes from macro
phage-tropic compared to lymphoid cell line-tropic strains. All recomb
inant envelope proteins were recognized by monoclonal antibodies direc
ted at gp41 or the C-terminal gp120 epitopes, and no differences in bi
nding to CD4 were noted.