Determination of Essential Amino Acids Involved in the CD4-Independent Tropism of the X4 Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 m7NDK Isolate: Role of Potential N Glycosylations in the C2 and V3 Regions of gp120

Seven mutations in the C2, V3, and C3 regions of gp120 are implicated in the tropism of the first CD4-independent human immunodeficiency virus type 1 isolate, m7NDK. Site-directed mutagenesis revealed that three amino acids are essential to maintain this tropism, one in the C2 region and two in the V3 loop. Two mutations implied N glycosylation modifications.