The primary body of information on the structure of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) long terminal repeat (LTR)/gag leader genotypes has been determined from the analysis of cocultivated isolates. Functional studies of this regulatory portion of the provirus have been derived from the study of in vitro-generated mutations of laboratory-adapted molecular clones of HIV-1. We have performed a longitudinal analysis of molecular clones from the LTR/gag leader region amplified directly from the peripheral blood of four patients over three years. We have found a remarkable number of point mutations and length polymorphisms in cis- and trans-acting regulatory elements within this cohort. Most of the length polymorphisms were associated with duplications of Sp1 and TCF-1 alpha sequences. These mutations were associated with a wide range of transcriptional activities for these genotypes in a reporter gene assay. Mutations in conserved Sp1 sequences correlated with a diminished capacity of such genotypes to bind purified Sp1 protein. Although no generalized trend in transcriptional activity was seen, a single patient accumulated mutations in NF-kappa B, Sp1, and TAR elements over this period. The analysis of naturally occurring mutations of LTR genotypes provides a means to study the molecular genetic consequences of virus-host interactions and to assess the functional impact of HIV therapeutics.