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Journal of Virology, December 2005, p. 15573-15577, Vol. 79, No. 24
0022-538X/05/$08.00+0     doi:10.1128/JVI.79.24.15573-15577.2005
Copyright © 2005, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Identification of a Functional Envelope Protein from the HERV-K Family of Human Endogenous Retroviruses

Marie Dewannieux, Sandra Blaise,{dagger} and Thierry Heidmann*

Unité des Rétrovirus Endogènes et Eléments Rétroïdes des Eucaryotes Supérieurs, UMR 8122 CNRS, Institut Gustave Roussy, 94805 Villejuif, France

Received 28 April 2005/ Accepted 27 September 2005

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.

* Corresponding author. Mailing address: Unité des Rétrovirus Endogènes et Eléments Rétroïdes des Eucaryotes Supérieurs, UMR 8122 CNRS, Institut Gustave Roussy, 94805 Villejuif, France. Phone: 33 / 1-42-11-49-70, Fax: 33 / 1-42-11-53-42. E-mail: heidmann{at}igr.fr.

{dagger} Present address: Unité de Virologie des Aliments et de l'Eau, AFSSA—LERQAP, 23 avenue du Général de Gaulle, 94706 Maisons-Alfort cedex, France.

Journal of Virology, December 2005, p. 15573-15577, Vol. 79, No. 24
0022-538X/05/$08.00+0     doi:10.1128/JVI.79.24.15573-15577.2005
Copyright © 2005, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.



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