CXCR4 and CCR5 are the principal coreceptors for human immunodeficiency virus type-1 (HIV-1) infection. Previously, mutagenesis of CXCR4 identified single amino acid changes that either impaired CXCR4's coreceptor activity for CXCR4-dependent (X4) isolate envelope glycoproteins (Env) or expanded its activity, allowing it to serve as a functional coreceptor for CCR5-dependent (R5) isolates. The most potent of these point mutations was an alanine substitution for the aspartic acid residue at position 187 in extracellular loop 2 (ecl-2), and here we show that this mutation also permits a variety of primary R5 isolate Envs, including those of other subtypes (clades), to employ it as a coreceptor. We also examined the corresponding region of CCR5 and demonstrate that the substitution of the serine residue in the homologous ecl-2 position with aspartic acid impairs CCR5 coreceptor activity for isolates across several clades. These results highlight a homologous and critical element in ecl-2, of both the CXCR4 and CCR5 molecules, for their respective coreceptor activities. Charge elimination expands CXCR4 coreceptor activity, while a similar charge introduction can destroy the coreceptor function of CCR5. These findings provide further evidence that there are conserved elements in both CXCR4 and CCR5 involved in coreceptor function.Seven-transmembrane domain coreceptor molecules are required along with CD4 for human immunodeficiency virus type-1 (HIV-1) 1 envelope glycoprotein (Env)-mediated membrane fusion and virus entry (reviewed in Refs. 1-4). These coreceptors belong or are related to the chemokine receptor subfamily of the seven-transmembrane domain G-protein-coupled receptor superfamily (5). Although more than a dozen related coreceptor molecules have been shown by one or more laboratories to function in the fusion or entry of at least one virus isolate, it is now well recognized that the principal HIV-1 coreceptors remain the initially discovered CXC chemokine receptor CXCR4 and the CC-chemokine receptor CCR5 (6). The viral entry process is believed to occur through a receptormediated activation of Env's membrane fusogenic activity. The most favored model for the mechanism underlying this activation process involves at least two stages of receptor-induced conformational alterations in Env; the first is through CD4 binding, leading to exposure of the coreceptor binding site, followed by coreceptor binding and a further presumed conformational change resulting in the exposure and insertion of the hydrophobic fusion peptide domain of the gp41 NH 2 terminus into the receptor-bearing target cell (reviewed in detail in Refs. 7 and 8). Defining the elements of the coreceptor molecules involved in Env interaction and the membrane fusion process remains an area of critical importance for our complete understanding of the virus entry mechanism. To date, a variety of studies, employing the use of both Env and coreceptor genetic chimeras and mutations, have provided an extensive array of important structural information on...