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Reticuloendotheliosis type C and primate type D oncoretroviruses are members of the same receptor interference group
H M Koo1, J Gu, A Varela-Echavarria
1Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, Piscataway 08854-5635.
Abstract:
The reticuloendotheliosis viruses (REVs), originally isolated from avian species, constitute a group of retroviruses which are more closely related to mammalian retroviruses than to other avian retroviruses. The envelope glycoproteins of members of the REV group display a striking amino acid sequence identity with a group of primate oncoretroviruses which belong to a single receptor interference group and include all of the type D and some type C primate oncoretroviruses. Members of the REV group also have a broad host range which covers most avian cells and some mammalian cells, including those of simian and human origin. In view of this broad host range and the envelope sequence similarities, we investigated the cross-interference pattern between REV and primate virus groups to determine whether they utilized the same receptor. Superinfection experiments using a vector virus containing an Escherichia coli lacZ gene showed that reticuloendotheliosis and simian oncoretroviruses constitute a single receptor interference group on both human and canine cells and indicate that the viruses bind to the same receptor to initiate infection. These results suggest that this receptor binding specificity has been maintained over a wide range of retroviruses and may be responsible for the broad spread of these retroviruses between different orders of vertebrates.
Insights
Reticuloendotheliosis viruses (REVs) share receptors with primate retroviruses, infecting both avian and mammalian cells. This shared receptor usage explains their broad host range across vertebrate species.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Molecular Biology
- Evolutionary Biology
Background:
- Reticuloendotheliosis viruses (REVs) are avian retroviruses.
- REVs show genetic similarities to mammalian retroviruses, particularly primate oncoretroviruses.
- REVs infect a broad range of avian and mammalian cells, including human and simian cells.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate receptor usage by REVs and primate oncoretroviruses.
- To determine if REVs and primate retroviruses utilize the same cellular receptor for infection.
- To understand the implications of shared receptor usage for retroviral host range.
Main Methods:
- Envelope glycoprotein sequence analysis to identify similarities between REV and primate retroviruses.
- Cross-interference experiments using a retroviral vector carrying the Escherichia coli lacZ gene.
- Superinfection assays on human and canine cell lines to assess viral interference patterns.
Main Results:
- Reticuloendotheliosis viruses and simian oncoretroviruses form a single receptor interference group.
- These viruses bind to the same cellular receptor on human and canine cells.
- Envelope sequence identity correlates with shared receptor usage.
Conclusions:
- REVs and primate oncoretroviruses share a common cellular receptor.
- This shared receptor facilitates the broad host range of these retroviruses across vertebrates.
- Receptor binding specificity is conserved across diverse retroviral lineages.