Fusogenic segments of bovine leukemia virus and simian immunodeficiency virus are interchangeable and mediate fusion by means of oblique insertion in the lipid bilayer of their target cells.

Modified bovine leukemia virus (BLV) glycoproteins were expressed by using vaccinia virus recombinants, and their fusogenic capacities were examined by a syncytia-formation assay. This analysis indicates that (i) both BLV envelope glycoproteins gp51 and gp30 are necessary for cell fusion; (ii) insertion of the N-terminal segment of gp30 (fusion peptide) into the lipid bilayer in an oblique orientation, as predicted by computer conformational analysis, results in fusogenic capacities higher than insertion in a perpendicular or parallel orientation; and (iii) replacement of the BLV fusion peptide with its simian immunodeficiency virus counterpart does not modify the fusogenic capacity of the BLV glycoprotein.