Reconstitution of the ancestral glycoprotein of human endogenous retrovirus k and modulation of its functional activity by truncation of the cytoplasmic domain.

ABSTRACT: Endogenous retroviruses present in the human genome provide a rich record of ancient infections. All presently recognized elements, including the youngest and most intact proviruses of the human endogenous retrovirus K(HML-2) [HERV-K(HML-2)] family, have suffered postinsertional mutations during their time of chromosomal residence, and genes encoding the envelope glycoprotein (Env) have not been spared these mutations. In this study, we have, for the first time, reconstituted an authentic Env of a HERV-K(HML-2) provirus by back mutation of putative postinsertional amino acid changes of the protein encoded by HERV-K113. Aided by codon-optimized expression, we demonstrate that the reconstituted Env regained its ability to be incorporated into retroviral particles and to mediate entry. The or

SUBMITTER: Hanke K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2786854 | biostudies-literature | 2009 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature