Resistance to neutralization by broadly reactive antibodies to the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 gp120 glycoprotein conferred by a gp41 amino acid change.

A neutralization-resistant variant of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) that emerged during in vitro propagation of the virus in the presence of neutralizing serum from an infected individual has been described. A threonine-for-alanine substitution at position 582 in the gp41 transmembrane envelope glycoprotein of the variant virus was responsible for the neutralization-resistant phenotype (M.S. Reitz, Jr., C. Wilson, C. Naugle, R. C. Gallo, and M. Robert-Guroff, Cell 54:57-63, 1988). The mutant virus also exhibited reduced sensitivity to neutralization by 30% of HIV-1-positive sera that neutralized the parental virus, suggesting that a significant fraction of the neutralizing activity within these sera can be affected by the amino acid change in gp41 (C. Wilson, M. S. Reitz, Jr., K. Aldrich, P. J. Klasse, J. Blomberg, R. C. Gallo, and M. Robert-Guroff, J. Virol. 64:3240-3248, 1990). It is shown here that the change of alanine 582 to threonine specifically confers resistance to neutralizing by antibodies directed against both groups of discontinuous, conserved epitopes related to the CD4 binding site on the gp120 exterior envelope glycoprotein. Only minor differences in binding of these antibodies to wild-type and mutant envelope glycoproteins were observed. Thus, the antigenic structure of gp120 can be subtly affected by an amino acid change in gp41, with important consequences for sensitivity to neutralization.     

Domains of the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 matrix and gp41 cytoplasmic tail required for envelope incorporation into virions.

We recently demonstrated that a single amino acid substitution in matrix residue 12 (12LE) or 30 (30LE) blocks the incorporation of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) envelope glycoproteins into virions and that this block can be reversed by pseudotyping with heterologous retroviral envelope glycoproteins with short cytoplasmic tails or by truncating the cytoplasmic tail of HIV-1 transmembrane glycoprotein gp41 by 104 or 144 amino acids. In this study, we mapped the domain of the gp41 cytoplasmic tail responsible for the block to incorporation into virions by introducing a series of eight truncation mutations that eliminated 23 to 93 amino acids from the C terminus of gp41. We found that incorporation into virions of a HIV-1 envelope glycoprotein with a deletion of 23, 30, 51, or 56 residues from the C terminus of gp41 is specifically blocked by the 12LE matrix mutation, whereas truncations of greater than 93 amino acids reverse this defect. To elucidate the role of matrix residue 12 in this process, we introduced a number of additional single amino acid substitutions at matrix positions 12 and 13. Charged substitutions at residue 12 blocked envelope incorporation and virus infectivity, whereas more subtle amino acid substitutions resulted in a spectrum of envelope incorporation defects. To characterize further the role of matrix in envelope incorporation into virions, we obtained and analyzed second-site revertants to two different matrix residue 12 mutations. A Val-->Ile substition at matrix amino acid 34 compensated for the effects of both amino acid 12 mutations, suggesting that matrix residues 12 and 34 interact during the incorporation of HIV-1 envelope glycoproteins into nascent virions.     

Evidence that the structural conformation of envelope gp120 affects human immunodeficiency virus type 1 infectivity, host range, and syncytium-forming ability.

We investigated how amino acid changes within and outside the V3 loop of the envelope glycoprotein of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 influence the infectivity, host range, and syncytium-forming ability of the virus. Our studies show that on the genomic backgrounds of the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 strains SF2 and SF13, a reciprocal exchange of full-loop sequences does not alter the syncytium-forming ability of the viruses, indicating that a determinant(s) for this biological property maps outside the loop. However, specific amino acid substitutions, both within and outside the V3 loop, resulted in loss of infectivity, host range, and syncytium-forming potential of the virus. Furthermore, it appears that a functional interaction of the V3 loop with regions in the C2 domain of envelope gp120 plays a role in determining these biological properties. Structural studies of mutant glycoproteins show that the mutations introduced affect the proper association of gp120 with the transmembrane glycoprotein gp41. Our results suggest that mutations that alter the structure of the V3 loop can affect the overall conformation of gp120 and that, reciprocally, the structure of the V3 loop is influenced by the conformation of other regions of gp120. Since the changes in the replicative potential, host range, and fusogenic ability of the mutant viruses correlate well with the changes in gp120 conformation, as monitored by the association of gp120 with gp41, our results support a close relationship between envelope gp120 structural conformation and the biological phenotype of the virus.     

Role of hydrophobic residues in the central ectodomain of gp41 in maintaining the association between human immunodeficiency virus type 1 envelope glycoprotein subunits gp120 and gp41

The interaction between the gp120 and gp41 subunits of the human immunodeficiency virus envelope glycoprotein serves to stabilize the virion form of the complex and to transmit receptor-induced conformational changes in gp120 to trigger the membrane fusion activity of gp41. In this study, we used site-directed mutagenesis to identify amino acid residues in the central ectodomain of gp41 that contribute to the stability of the gp120-gp41 association. We identified alanine mutations at six positions, including four tryptophan residues, which result in mutant envelope glycoprotein complexes that fail to retain gp120 on the cell surface. These envelope glycoproteins readily shed their gp120 and are unable to mediate cell-cell fusion. These findings suggest an important role for the conserved bulky hydrophobic residues in stabilizing the gp120-gp41 complex.     

Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 envelope glycoprotein oligomerization requires the gp41 amphipathic alpha-helical/leucine zipper-like sequence.

Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) envelope glycoprotein (Env) oligomerization was investigated by coexpressing wild-type and truncated envelope glycoproteins to determine the minimum sequence required for mutant-wild-type hetero-oligomerization. The gp41 putative amphipathic alpha-helix, Leu-550 to Leu-582, was essential for hetero-oligomer formation. Alanine substitution of 9 of the 10 residues composing the gp41 amphipathic alpha-helix 4-3 hydrophobic repeat sequence was required to inhibit mutant-wild-type hetero-oligomerization and to render the envelope glycoprotein precursor, gp160, monomeric. This indicates that multiple hydrophobic contacts contribute to the stable envelope glycoprotein oligomeric structure. Single alanine substitutions within the hydrophobic repeat sequence did not affect gp160 oligomeric structure but abolished syncytium-forming function. Some mutations also diminished gp160 processing efficiency and the association between gp120 and gp41 in a position-dependent manner. These results indicate that the gp41 amphipathic alpha-helix 4-3 hydrophobic repeat sequence plays a central role in HIV-1 envelope glycoprotein oligomerization and fusion function.     

Truncation of the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 transmembrane glycoprotein cytoplasmic domain blocks virus infectivity.

Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 contains a transmembrane glycoprotein with an unusually long cytoplasmic domain. To determine the role of this domain in virus replication, a series of single nucleotide changes that result in the insertion of premature termination codons throughout the cytoplasmic domain has been constructed. These mutations delete from 6 to 192 amino acids from the carboxy terminus of gp41 and do not affect the amino acid sequence of the regulatory proteins encoded by rev and tat. The effects of these mutations on glycoprotein biosynthesis and function as well as on virus infectivity have been examined in the context of a glycoprotein expression vector and the viral genome. All of the mutant glycoproteins were synthesized, processed, and transported to the cell surface in a manner similar to that of the wild-type glycoprotein. With the exception of mutants that remove the membrane anchor domain, all of the mutant glycoproteins retained the ability to cause fusion of CD4-bearing cells. However, deletion of more than 19 amino acids from the C terminus of gp41 blocked the ability of mutant virions to infect cells. This defect in virus infectivity appeared to be due at least in part to a failure of the virus to efficiently incorporate the truncated glycoprotein. Similar data were obtained for mutations in two different env genes and two different target cell lines. These results indicate that the cytoplasmic domain of gp41 plays a critical role during virus assembly and entry in the life cycle of human immunodeficiency virus type 1.     

Functional interaction of constant and variable domains of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 gp120.

A previously reported amino acid substitution within the second conserved domain of the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) gp120 envelope results in the production of noninfectious particles. Molecular characterization of spontaneous revertant viruses, which arose during long-term cocultures of this env mutant, revealed that an amino acid change within another region of gp120 could functionally compensate for the mutation and restore infectivity. In the current study, we have introduced a conservative amino acid substitution at this second-site revertant codon and observed a marked reduction in HIV-1 infectivity. During the passage of this defective virus in cocultures, yet another revertant appeared which contained an amino acid change within a variable region of gp120 which restored infectivity to near wild-type levels. These results, in combination with other point mutations that have been introduced into the HIV-1 envelope, suggest that at least three discrete regions of gp120 may interact during the establishment of a productive viral infection. This critical step occurs subsequent to the adsorption of virions to the cell surface and either prior to or concomitant with the fusion of viral and cellular membranes.     

Changes in the cytopathic effects of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 associated with a single amino acid alteration in the ectodomain of the gp41 transmembrane glycoprotein.

A human immunodeficiency virus type 1 mutant with a single amino acid change (designated 596 W/M) in the ectodomain of the gp41 transmembrane envelope glycoprotein replicated in T-cell lines and in CD4-positive peripheral blood mononuclear cells identically to the wild-type virus. However, the cytopathic effects associated with infection by the mutant virus were altered, with a marked attenuation of syncytium formation and a significant delay in single-cell lysis relative to those of the wild-type virus-infected culture. The 596 W/M mutant is apparently defective in a function that is dispensable for virus entry but that contributes to the efficiency of induction of viral cytopathic effects.     

Transdominant inhibition of wild-type human immunodeficiency virus type 2 replication by an envelope deletion mutant.

The envelope glycoprotein of human immunodeficiency virus type 2 (HIV-2) is primarily responsible for virus attachment and entry into the target cell population. We constructed an HIV-2 mutant virus containing an in-frame deletion within the putative CD4-binding sequences of the envelope glycoprotein and confirmed that the mutant envelope is unable to bind CD4 and that the mutant virus is noninfectious. To investigate whether this mutant could dominantly interfere with wild-type replication, we coexpressed proviral DNAs of both wild-type and mutant viruses in cells and assayed the production of infectious HIV-2 virions. Interference with virus replication was indeed observed with mutant DNA, and a maximal effect was achieved with 10-fold excess mutant DNA over wild-type DNA in the cotransfection experiments. The transdominant effect on virus replication does not appear to be at the level of wild-type envelope expression or gp120-CD4 interaction. Rather, the interference may be at the level of mixed-oligomer formation during progeny virus assembly and may occur by either destabilizing the multimeric structure of gp120 or forming a defective mixed multimeric gp120 which is unable to complete the receptor binding and/or postbinding events needed for infection.     

Characterization of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 matrix revertants: effects on virus assembly, Gag processing, and Env incorporation into virions.

The matrix protein of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) has been postulated to serve a variety of functions in the virus life cycle. Previously, we introduced a large number of mutations into the HIV-1 matrix and determined the effects on virus replication. These studies identified domains involved in virus assembly and release and envelope glycoprotein incorporation into virions. Here we describe the identification and characterization of viral revertants containing second-site changes in the matrix which compensate for the effects of four of the original mutations on matrix function. Specifically, mutations at matrix residues 4 and 6 severely impaired virus assembly and release; substitutions at residues 4 and 6 reversed the phenotype of the amino acid 4 change while second-site mutations at matrix positions 10, 69, and 97 partially or fully reversed the phenotype of the amino acid 6 substitution. A mutation at matrix residue 62 reversed the effect of a position 34 change which blocks envelope glycoprotein incorporation into virions, and substitutions at residues 27 and 51 reversed the phenotype of a position 86 mutation which redirects virus assembly to the cytoplasm. In addition to determining the effects of the compensatory changes in the context of the original mutations, we also introduced and analyzed the second-site changes alone in the context of the wild-type molecular clone. The data presented here define potential intermolecular and intramolecular interactions which occur in the matrix during the virus life cycle and have implications for our understanding of the relationship between matrix structure and function.     

Requirement of N-terminal amino acid residues of gp41 for human immunodeficiency virus type 1-mediated cell fusion.

An expression vector was designed to test the structural requirements of the gp41 N terminus for human immunodeficiency virus type 1-induced membrane fusion. Mutations in the region coding for the N terminus of gp41 were found to disrupt glycoprotein expression because of deleterious effects on the Rev-responsive element (RRE). Insertion of an additional RRE in the 3'-noncoding sequence of env made possible efficient glycoprotein expression, irrespective of the mutations introduced into the RRE in the natural location. This permitted the insertion of the unique restriction site SpeI within the N-terminal sequences of gp41, allowing convenient and efficient mutation of the gp41 N terminus by using double-stranded synthetic oligonucleotides. Mutants with deletions of 1 to 7 amino acids of the N terminus were constructed. Expression and cleavage of all mutants were confirmed by Western immunoblot analysis with anti-gp41 antibodies. The capability of mutants to induce membrane fusion was monitored following transfection of HeLa-T4+ cell lines with wild-type and mutant expression vectors by electroporation and microinjection. The efficiency of cell-fusing activity decreased drastically with deletion of 3 and 4 amino acids and was completely lost with deletion of 5 amino acids. Cotransfection of the parent and mutant expression vectors resulted in reduced cell-fusing activity. The extent of this dominant interference by mutant glycoprotein paralleled the decrease in cell-fusing activity of the mutants alone. This suggests the existence of a specific N-terminal structure required for fusing activity. However, there does not appear to be a stringent requirement for the precise length of the N terminus. This finding is supported by the length variation of this region among natural human immunodeficiency virus type 1 isolates and is in contrast to the apparent stringency in the length of analogous N-terminal structures of influenza A virus and paramyxovirus fusion glycoproteins.     

In vitro mutagenesis identifies a region within the envelope gene of the human immunodeficiency virus that is critical for infectivity.

Site-specific mutagenesis was used to introduce amino acid substitutions at the asparagine codons of four conserved potential N-linked glycosylation sites within the gp120 envelope protein of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). One of these alterations resulted in the production of noninfectious virus particles. The amino acid substitution did not interfere with the synthesis, processing, and stability of the env gene polypeptides gp120 and gp41 or the binding of gp120 to its cellular receptor, the CD4 (T4) molecule. Vaccinia virus recombinants containing wild-type or mutant HIV env genes readily induced syncytia in CD4+ HeLa cells. These results suggest that alterations involving the second conserved domain of the HIV gp120 may interfere with an essential early step in the virus replication cycle other than binding to the CD4 receptor. In long-term cocultures of a T4+ lymphocyte cell line and colon carcinoma cells producing the mutant virus, revertant infectious virions were detected. Molecular characterization of two revertant proviral clones revealed the presence of the original mutation as well as a compensatory amino acid change in another region of HIV gp120.     

Structural and functional analysis of the HIV gp41 core containing an Ile573 to Thr substitution: implications for membrane fusion

The envelope glycoprotein of HIV-1 consists of the surface subunit gp120 and the transmembrane subunit gp41. Binding of gp120 to target cell receptors induces a conformational change in gp41, which then mediates the fusion of viral and cellular membranes. A buried isoleucine (Ile573) in a central trimeric coiled coil within the fusion-active gp41 ectodomain core is thought to favor this conformational activation. The role of Ile573 in determining the structure and function of the gp120-gp41 complex was investigated by mutating this residue to threonine, a nonconservative substitution in HIV-1 that occurs naturally in SIV. While the introduction of Thr573 markedly destabilized the gp41 core, the three-dimensional structure of the mutant trimer of hairpins was very similar to that of the wild-type molecule. A new hydrogen-bonding interaction between the buried Thr573 and Thr569 residues appears to allow formation of the trimer-of-hairpins structure at physiological temperature. The mutant envelope glycoprotein expressed in 293T cells and incorporated within pseudotyped virions displayed only a moderate reduction in syncytium-inducing capacity and virus infectivity, respectively. Our results demonstrate that the proper folding of the gp41 core underlies the membrane fusion properties of the gp120-gp41 complex. An understanding of the gp41 activation process may suggest novel strategies for vaccine and antiviral drug development.     

A mutation in the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 Gag protein destabilizes the interaction of the envelope protein subunits gp120 and gp41

The Gag protein of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) associates with the envelope protein complex during virus assembly. The available evidence indicates that this interaction involves recognition of the gp41 cytoplasmic tail (CT) by the matrix protein (MA) region of Pr55(Gag). Here we show that substitution of Asp for Leu at position 49 (L49D) in MA results in a specific reduction in particle-associated gp120 without affecting the levels of gp41. Mutant virions were markedly reduced in single-cycle infectivity despite a relatively modest defect in fusion with target cells. Studies with HIV-1 particles containing decreased levels of envelope proteins suggested that the L49D mutation also inhibits a postentry step in infection. Truncation of the gp41 tail, or pseudotyping by vesicular stomatitis virus glycoprotein, restored both the fusion and infectivity of L49D mutant virions to wild-type levels. Truncation of gp41 also resulted in equivalent levels of gp120 on particles with and without the MA mutation and enhanced the replication of the L49D mutant virus in T cells. The impaired fusion and infectivity of L49D mutant particles were also complemented by a single point mutation in the gp41 CT that disrupted the tyrosine-containing endocytic motif. Our results suggest that an altered interaction between the MA domain of Gag and the gp41 cytoplasmic tail leads to dissociation of gp120 from gp41 during HIV-1 particle assembly, thus resulting in impaired fusion and infectivity.     

Adaptation of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 to cells expressing a binding-deficient CD4 mutant (lysine 46 to aspartic acid).

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1) was adapted to replicate efficiently in cells expressing an altered form of the CD4 viral receptor. The mutant CD4 (46 K/D) contained a single amino acid change (lysine 46 to aspartic acid) in the CDR2 loop of domain 1, which results in a 15-fold reduction in affinity for the viral gp120 glycoprotein. The ability of the adapted virus to replicate in CD4 46 K/D-expressing cells was independently enhanced by single amino acid changes in the V2 variable loop, the V3 variable loop, and the fourth conserved (C4) region of the gp120 glycoprotein. Combinations of these amino acids in the same envelope glycoprotein resulted in additive enhancement of virus replication in cells expressing the CD4 46 K/D molecule. In cells expressing the wild-type CD4 glycoproteins, the same V2 and V3 residue changes also increased the efficiency of replication of a virus exhibiting decreased receptor-binding ability due to an amino acid change (aspartic acid 368 to glutamic acid) in the gp120 glycoprotein. In neither instance did the adaptive changes restore the binding ability of the monomeric gp120 glycoprotein or the oligomeric envelope glycoprotein complex for the mutant or wild-type CD4 glycoproteins, respectively. Thus, particular conformations of the gp120 V2 and V3 variable loops and of the C4 region allow postreceptor binding events in the membrane fusion process to occur in the context of less than optimal receptor binding. These results suggest that the fusion-related functions of the V2, V3, and C4 regions of gp120 are modulated by CD4 binding.     

Effect of point mutations in the N terminus of the lentivirus lytic peptide-1 sequence of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 transmembrane protein gp41 on Env stability

To understand the role of the lentivirus lytic peptide-1 region of the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 transmembrane glycoprotein (gp) 41 in viral infection, we examined the effects on virus replication of single amino acid deletions spanning this region in an infectious provirus of the HXB2 strain. Among the mutants analyzed, only the deletion of one of the two adjacent valine residues located at positions 832 and 833 (termed the Delta 833 mutant for simplicity) greatly reduced the steady-state, cell-associated levels of the Env precursor and gp120, as opposed to the wild-type virus. The altered Env phenotype resulted in severely impaired virus infectivity and gp120 incorporation into this mutant virion. Analyses of additional mutants with deletions at Ile-830, Ala-836, and Ile-840 demonstrated that the Delta 830 mutant exhibited the most significant inhibitory effect on Env steady-state expression. These results indicate that the N terminus of the lentivirus lytic peptide-1 region is critical for Env steady-state expression. Among the mutant viruses encoding Env proteins in which residues Val-832 and Val-833 were individually substituted by nonconserved amino acids Ala, Ser, or Pro, which were expected to disrupt the alpha-helical structure in the increasingly severe manner of Pro > Ser > Ala, only the 833P mutant exhibited significantly reduced steady-state Env expression. Pulse labeling and pulse-chase studies demonstrated that the Delta 830, Delta 833, and 833P mutants of Env proteins degraded more rapidly in a time-dependent manner after biosynthesis than did the wild-type Env. The results indicate that residue 830 and 833 mutations are likely to induce a conformational change in Env that targets the mutant protein for cellular degradation. Our study has implications about the structural determinants located at the N terminus of the lentivirus lytic peptide-1 sequence of gp41 that affect the fate of Env in virus-infected cells.     

Effects of deletions in the cytoplasmic domain on biological functions of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 envelope glycoproteins.

The role of the cytoplasmic domain of the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) envelope glycoproteins in virus replication was investigated. Deletion of residues 840 to 856 at the carboxyl terminus of gp41 reduced the efficiency of virus entry during an early step in the virus life cycle between CD4 binding and formation of the DNA provirus without affecting envelope glycoprotein synthesis, processing, or syncytium-forming ability. Deletion of residues amino terminal to residue 846 was associated with decreased stability of envelope glycoproteins made in COS-1 cells, but this phenotype was cell type dependent. The cytoplasmic domain of gp41 was not required for the incorporation of the HIV-1 envelope glycoproteins into virions. These results suggest that the carboxyl terminus of the gp41 cytoplasmic domain plays a role in HIV-1 entry other than receptor binding or membrane fusion. The cytoplasmic domain of gp41 also affects the stability of the envelope glycoprotein in some cell types.     

Mutational analysis of the cleavage sequence of the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 envelope glycoprotein precursor gp160.

The envelope glycoproteins of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) type 1 are synthesized as a precursor molecule, gp160, which is cleaved to generate the two mature envelope glycoproteins, gp120 and gp41. The cleavage reaction, which is mediated by a host protease, occurs at a sequence highly conserved in retroviral envelope glycoprotein precursors. We have investigated the sequence requirements for this cleavage reaction by introducing four single-amino-acid changes into the glutamic acid-lysine-arginine sequence immediately amino terminal to the site of cleavage. We have also examined the effects of these mutations on the syncytium formation induced by HIV envelope glycoproteins. Our results indicate that a glutamic acid to glycine change at gp120 amino acid 516, a lysine to isoleucine change at amino acid 517, and an arginine to lysine change at amino acid 518 affect neither gp160 cleavage nor syncytium formation. The results obtained with the arginine to lysine change at amino acid 518 differ significantly from the results obtained with the same mutation at the envelope precursor cleavage site of a murine leukemia virus (E. O. Freed, and R. Risser, J. Virol. 61:2852-2856, 1987). An arginine to threonine mutation at gp120 amino acid 518, the terminal residue of gp120, abolishes both gp160 cleavage and syncytium formation. These findings demonstrate that despite its highly conserved nature, the basic pair of amino acids at the site of gp160 cleavage is not absolutely required for proper envelope glycoprotein processing. This report also supports the idea that cleavage of gp160 is required for activation of the HIV envelope fusion function.     

Subunit stoichiometry of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 envelope glycoprotein trimers during virus entry into host cells

The envelope glycoproteins of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) function as a homotrimer of gp120/gp41 heterodimers to support virus entry. During the process of virus entry, an individual HIV-1 envelope glycoprotein trimer binds the cellular receptors CD4 and CCR5/CXCR4 and mediates the fusion of the viral and the target cellular membranes. By studying the function of heterotrimers between wild-type and nonfunctional mutant envelope glycoproteins, we found that two wild-type subunits within an envelope glycoprotein trimer are required to support virus entry. Complementation between HIV-1 envelope glycoprotein mutants defective in different functions to allow virus entry was not evident. These results assist our understanding of the mechanisms whereby the HIV-1 envelope glycoproteins mediate virus entry and membrane fusion and guide attempts to inhibit these processes.     

Virion incorporation of envelope glycoproteins with long but not short cytoplasmic tails is blocked by specific, single amino acid substitutions in the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 matrix.

Incorporation of envelope glycoproteins into a budding retrovirus is an essential step in the formation of an infectious virus particle. By using site-directed mutagenesis, we identified specific amino acid residues in the matrix domain of the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) Gag protein that are critical to the incorporation of HIV-1 envelope glycoproteins into virus particles. Pseudotyping analyses were used to demonstrate that two heterologous envelope glycoproteins with short cytoplasmic tails (the envelope of the amphotropic murine leukemia virus and a naturally truncated HIV-2 envelope) are efficiently incorporated into HIV-1 particles bearing the matrix mutations. Furthermore, deletion of the cytoplasmic tail of HIV-1 transmembrane envelope glycoprotein gp41 from 150 to 7 or 47 residues reversed the incorporation block imposed by the matrix mutations. These results suggest the existence of a specific functional interaction between the HIV-1 matrix and the gp41 cytoplasmic tail.