Genetic analysis reveals placenta-specific expression of retroviral EnvV-Fca in domestic cats, indicating purifying selection and ancestral virus co-option.
Endogenous retroviruses (ERVs) are remnants of ancestral viruses in the host genome. The present study identified the expression of a defective retroviral env gene belonging to the ERV group V member Env (EnvV) in Felis catus (EnvV‐Fca). EnV‐Fca was specifically detected in the placental trophoblast syncytiotrophobic layer and expressed as a secreted protein in cultured cells. Genetic analyses indicated that EnvV2 genes are widely present in vertebrates and are under purifying selection among carnivores, suggesting a potential benefit for the host. This study suggests that birds, bats, and rodents carrying EnvV2 may play significant roles as intermediate vectors in spreading or cross‐transmitting viruses among species. Our findings provide valuable insights into the evolution of ERV in vertebrate hosts.
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Pramono et al. (2024) studied this question.
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