An Endogenous Retrovirus from Human Hookworm Encodes an Ancient Phlebovirus-Like Class II Envelope Fusion Protein
Within the parasitic nematode <i>Ancylostoma ceylanicum</i>, a ~20 million-year-old Bel/Pao LTR retrotransposon encodes an ancient viral class II envelope fusion protein termed Atlas Gc. Typically, retroviruses and related degenerate retrotransposons encode a hemagglutinin-like class I e...
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MDPI AG
2020-06-01
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2504-3900/50/1/33 |
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| author | Monique Merchant Carlos P. Mata Yorgo Modis |
| author_facet | Monique Merchant Carlos P. Mata Yorgo Modis |
| author_sort | Monique Merchant |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Within the parasitic nematode <i>Ancylostoma ceylanicum</i>, a ~20 million-year-old Bel/Pao LTR retrotransposon encodes an ancient viral class II envelope fusion protein termed Atlas Gc. Typically, retroviruses and related degenerate retrotransposons encode a hemagglutinin-like class I envelope fusion protein. A subset of Bel/Pao LTR retrotransposons within the phylum <i>Nematoda</i> have acquired a phlebovirus-like envelope gene and utilized the encoded fusion machinery to escape the genome as intact exogenous retroviruses. This includes <i>C. elegans</i> retroelement 7 virus which was recently reclassified as a member of the genus <i>Semotivirus</i>. A 3.76 Å cryoEM reconstruction confirms Atlas Gc as a closely related phleboviral homologue and class II fusion protein in a novel case of gene exaptation. Preliminary biophysical and biochemical characterization indicate Atlas Gc functions under specific physiological conditions targeting late-endosomal membranes, much like modern viral class II envelope fusion proteins. Phylogenetic analyses support the reclassification of the Atlas endogenous retrovirus and five other <i>A. ceylanicum</i> ERVs as novel semotiviruses of <i>Belpaoviridae</i> of the new viral order of reverse-transcribing viruses <i>Ortervirales</i>. |
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| issn | 2504-3900 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2025-03-20T05:52:04Z |
| publishDate | 2020-06-01 |
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| spelling | doaj.art-eaff776a9e9d42bd88ce3a653facab1d2024-10-03T02:27:39ZengMDPI AGProceedings2504-39002020-06-015013310.3390/proceedings2020050033An Endogenous Retrovirus from Human Hookworm Encodes an Ancient Phlebovirus-Like Class II Envelope Fusion ProteinMonique Merchant0Carlos P. Mata1Yorgo Modis2Molecular Immunity Unit, Department of Medicine, University of Cambridge, MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge CB2 0QH, UKAstbury Centre for Structural Molecular Biology, School of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, UKMolecular Immunity Unit, Department of Medicine, University of Cambridge, MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge CB2 0QH, UKWithin the parasitic nematode <i>Ancylostoma ceylanicum</i>, a ~20 million-year-old Bel/Pao LTR retrotransposon encodes an ancient viral class II envelope fusion protein termed Atlas Gc. Typically, retroviruses and related degenerate retrotransposons encode a hemagglutinin-like class I envelope fusion protein. A subset of Bel/Pao LTR retrotransposons within the phylum <i>Nematoda</i> have acquired a phlebovirus-like envelope gene and utilized the encoded fusion machinery to escape the genome as intact exogenous retroviruses. This includes <i>C. elegans</i> retroelement 7 virus which was recently reclassified as a member of the genus <i>Semotivirus</i>. A 3.76 Å cryoEM reconstruction confirms Atlas Gc as a closely related phleboviral homologue and class II fusion protein in a novel case of gene exaptation. Preliminary biophysical and biochemical characterization indicate Atlas Gc functions under specific physiological conditions targeting late-endosomal membranes, much like modern viral class II envelope fusion proteins. Phylogenetic analyses support the reclassification of the Atlas endogenous retrovirus and five other <i>A. ceylanicum</i> ERVs as novel semotiviruses of <i>Belpaoviridae</i> of the new viral order of reverse-transcribing viruses <i>Ortervirales</i>.https://www.mdpi.com/2504-3900/50/1/33transposable elementretrotransposonendogenous retrovirus (ERV)envelope proteinmembrane fusionhorizontal gene transfer (HGT) |
| spellingShingle | Monique Merchant Carlos P. Mata Yorgo Modis An Endogenous Retrovirus from Human Hookworm Encodes an Ancient Phlebovirus-Like Class II Envelope Fusion Protein Proceedings transposable element retrotransposon endogenous retrovirus (ERV) envelope protein membrane fusion horizontal gene transfer (HGT) |
| title | An Endogenous Retrovirus from Human Hookworm Encodes an Ancient Phlebovirus-Like Class II Envelope Fusion Protein |
| title_full | An Endogenous Retrovirus from Human Hookworm Encodes an Ancient Phlebovirus-Like Class II Envelope Fusion Protein |
| title_fullStr | An Endogenous Retrovirus from Human Hookworm Encodes an Ancient Phlebovirus-Like Class II Envelope Fusion Protein |
| title_full_unstemmed | An Endogenous Retrovirus from Human Hookworm Encodes an Ancient Phlebovirus-Like Class II Envelope Fusion Protein |
| title_short | An Endogenous Retrovirus from Human Hookworm Encodes an Ancient Phlebovirus-Like Class II Envelope Fusion Protein |
| title_sort | endogenous retrovirus from human hookworm encodes an ancient phlebovirus like class ii envelope fusion protein |
| topic | transposable element retrotransposon endogenous retrovirus (ERV) envelope protein membrane fusion horizontal gene transfer (HGT) |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2504-3900/50/1/33 |
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