title: An endogenous retrovirus derived from human melanoma cells.
abstract: We show that human melanoma cells produce retrovirus-like particles that exhibit reverse transcriptase activity, package sequences homologous to human endogenous retrovirus K (HERV-K), and contain mature forms of the Gag and Env proteins. We also demonstrate expression of the pol gene and of Gag, Env, and Rec proteins in human melanomas and metastases but not in melanocytes or normal lymph nodes. The data suggest that expression of retroviral genes and production of retroviral particles is activated during development of melanoma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Division of General Dermatology, University of Vienna Medical School, Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Muster
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Waltenberger
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Grassauer
authors.forename: Sonja
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hirschl
authors.forename: Peri
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Caucig
authors.forename: Ingrid
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Romirer
authors.forename: Dagmar
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Födinger
authors.forename: Heide
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Seppele
authors.forename: Oliver
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Schanab
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Magin-Lachmann
authors.forename: Roswitha
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Löwer
authors.forename: Burkhard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Jansen
authors.forename: Hubert
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Pehamberger
authors.forename: Klaus
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Wolff
mesh_terms: D001483:Base Sequence; D020077:Endogenous Retroviruses / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism; D015686:Gene Products, env / Q000096:biosynthesis; D015683:Gene Products, gag / Q000096:biosynthesis; D015684:Gene Products, pol / Q000096:biosynthesis; D006801:Humans; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008545:Melanoma / Q000378:metabolism / Q000556:secondary / Q000821:virology*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D012689:Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000556:secondary / Q000821:virology
chemical_list: D015686:Gene Products, env; D015683:Gene Products, gag; D015684:Gene Products, pol