Restriction of an extinct retrovirus by the human TRIM5alpha antiviral protein.
Primate genomes contain a large number of endogenous retroviruses and encode evolutionarily dynamic proteins that provide intrinsic immunity to retroviral infections. We report here the resurrection of the core protein of a 4-million-year-old endogenous virus from the chimpanzee genome and show that the human variant of the intrinsic immune protein TRIM5alpha can actively prevent infection by this virus. However, we suggest that selective changes that have occurred in the human lineage during the acquisition of resistance to this virus, and perhaps similar viruses, may have left our species more susceptible to infection by human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1).
Kaiser
Shari M
SM
Molecular and Cellular Biology Program, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA.
Malik
Harmit S
HS
Emerman
Michael
M
D000818:Animals; D000090103:Antiviral Restriction Factors; D001483:Base Sequence; D005075:Biological Evolution; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D002415:Cats; D002460:Cell Line; D004247:DNA; D004198:Disease Susceptibility; D020077:Endogenous Retroviruses / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D006071:Gorilla gorilla; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D015497:HIV-1; D006801:Humans; D007113:Immunity, Innate / Q000235:genetics; D008253:Macaca mulatta; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D002679:Pan troglodytes / Q000235:genetics / Q000821:virology; D012192:Retroviridae Infections / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D000070584:Tripartite Motif Proteins; D044767:Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases
D000090103:Antiviral Restriction Factors; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D000070584:Tripartite Motif Proteins; D004247:DNA; C477346:TRIM5 protein, human; D044767:Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases