A bioactive phlebovirus-like envelope protein in a hookworm endogenous virus.
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Publication Date
2022-05-13Journal Title
Sci Adv
ISSN
2375-2548
Publisher
American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)
Volume
8
Issue
19
Language
eng
Type
Article
This Version
VoR
Metadata
Show full item recordCitation
Merchant, M., Mata, C. P., Liu, Y., Zhai, H., Protasio, A., & Modis, Y. (2022). A bioactive phlebovirus-like envelope protein in a hookworm endogenous virus.. Sci Adv, 8 (19) https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.abj6894
Abstract
Endogenous viral elements (EVEs), accounting for 15% of our genome, serve as a genetic reservoir from which new genes can emerge. Nematode EVEs are particularly diverse and informative of virus evolution. We identify Atlas virus-an intact retrovirus-like EVE in the human hookworm Ancylostoma ceylanicum, with an envelope protein genetically related to GN-GC glycoproteins from the family Phenuiviridae. A cryo-EM structure of Atlas GC reveals a class II viral membrane fusion protein fold not previously seen in retroviruses. Atlas GC has the structural hallmarks of an active fusogen. Atlas GC trimers insert into membranes with endosomal lipid compositions and low pH. When expressed on the plasma membrane, Atlas GC has cell-cell fusion activity. With its preserved biological activities, Atlas GC has the potential to acquire a cellular function. Our work reveals structural plasticity in reverse-transcribing RNA viruses.
Keywords
Animals, Humans, Ancylostomatoidea, RNA Viruses, Phlebovirus, Viral Envelope Proteins, Viral Fusion Proteins, Virus Internalization
Sponsorship
Wellcome Trust (101908/Z/13/Z)
National Institute of General Medical Sciences (R01GM102869)
Wellcome Trust (217191/Z/19/Z)
Identifiers
35544562, PMC9094657
External DOI: https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.abj6894
This record's URL: https://www.repository.cam.ac.uk/handle/1810/338024
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