Evolution of the Retroviral Restriction Gene Fv1: Inhibition of Non-MLV Retroviruses

• DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1003968
• Publication Date: 2014-03-06T22:05:08Z
• Authors: Melvyn W. Yap; Emily Colbeck; Scott A. Ellis; Jonathan P. Stoye
• Keywords: Equine infectious anemia; Endogenous retrovirus; Group-specific antigen

Fv1 is the prototypic restriction factor that protects against infection by murine leukemia virus (MLV). It was first identified in cells were derived from laboratory mice and found to be homologous gag gene of an endogenous retrovirus (ERV). To understand evolution host its retroviral origins, Fv1s wild isolated characterized. Most these possess intact open reading frames but not all restricted N-, B-, NR-or NB-tropic MLVs, suggesting other viruses could have played a role selection gene. The Mus spretus caroli restrict equine infectious anemia (EIAV) feline foamy (FFV) respectively, indicating broader target range than previously thought, including activity lentiviruses spumaviruses. Analyses sequences revealed number residues C-terminal region had evolved under positive selection. Four selected involved novel mapping studies. These results strengthen similarities between two capsid binding factors, TRIM5α, which support hypothesis defended waves possibly non-MLVs as well MLVs.