Stable Expression of the Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Envelope Glycoprotein in Transfected L Cells

Abstract

An SV40-based expression vector was used to generate CD4-negative murine L cell lines which stably expressed the human immunodeficiency virus envelope glycoprotein (env). Despite the presence of abundant intracellular envelope glycoprotein, the expression of env gp120/41 was not detected on the cell surface. Pulse-chase studies showed that the majority of the gp120 detected at the end of a 20-h chase was in the culture medium. Therefore gp120 was shed and/or secreted from these cells. Transfected L cells (H-2k) served as targets for specific lysis by CTL raised against vaccinia virus-encoded env gp160. The discrepancy in relative levels of intracellular versus surface expression of env was p..