Anchor sequence-dependent endogenous processing of human immunodeficiency virus 1 envelope glycoprotein gp160 for CD4+ T cell recognition.

Human CD4+ T cell clones and cell lines were shown to lyse recombinant vaccinia virus-infected cells that synthesize the HIV-1 envelope glycoprotein gp160. The processing of endogenously synthesized gp160 for recognition by CD4+ T cells required that the protein, after synthesis on the rough endoplasmic reticulum and during subsequent cellular transport, remain attached to the luminal/extracellular membrane face by a hydrophobic anchor sequence.