Identification of a functional envelope protein from the HERV-K family of human endogenous retroviruses
Identification of a functional envelope protein from the HERV-K family of human endogenous retroviruses
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DOI：
10.1128/jvi.79.24.15573-15577.2005
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发表时间：
2005-12-01
影响因子：
5.4
通讯作者：
Heidmann, T
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Dewannieux, M;Blaise, S;Heidmann, T
对人类内源性逆转录病毒（HERVs）基因组序列数据库的全基因组筛选已鉴定出18个编码ENV的基因，其中2个合胞素基因编码融合ENV蛋白，可能参与胎盘生理学。在这里，我们表明，第三个ENV，起源于最“最近”的HERV-K（HML 2）家族，是功能性的。env转导细胞的免疫荧光分析表明，在细胞表面的蛋白质的表达，我们表明，该蛋白质赋予感染性猿猴免疫缺陷病毒假型。假型病毒粒子的Western印迹分析进一步揭示了ENV前体蛋白的预期特异性切割。这种功能性ENV可以在HERV-K基因组拷贝的扩增（通过生殖系感染）中发挥作用，尤其是编码HERV-K gag和pol基因可以类似地在人类基因组中发现，因此可以产生完全内源性来源的感染性病毒体。
Genome-wide screening of sequence databases for human endogenous retroviruses (HERVs) has led to the identification of 18 coding env genes, among which two-the syncytin genes-encode fusogenic ENV proteins possibly involved in placenta physiology. Here we show that a third ENV, originating from the most "recent" HERV-K(HML2) family, is functional. Immunofluorescence analysis of env-transduced cells demonstrates expression of the protein at the cell surface, and we show that the protein confers infectivity to simian immunodeficiency virus pseudotypes. Western blot analysis of the pseudotyped virions further discloses the expected specific cleavage of the ENV precursor protein. This functional ENV could play a role in the amplification-via infection of the germ line-of the HERV-K genomic copies, all the more as coding HERV-K gag and pol genes can similarly be found in the human genome, which could therefore generate infectious virions of a fully endogenous origin.