Hare TRIM5α restricts divergent retroviruses and exhibits significant sequence variation from closely related lagomorpha TRIM5 genes.
TRIM5α proteins recruit and restrict incoming cytoplasmic retroviruses. Primate TRIM5α sequence diversity underlies species-specific restriction and is likely caused by selective pressure from ancient pathogenic infections. Here we show that TRIM5α from the European brown hare restricts diverse retroviruses. Furthermore, it differs significantly in sequence from TRIM5α from the closely related rabbit, suggesting evolutionary changes in the last 12 million years since these species diverged. We propose that, like primates, lagomorphs have been subject to selective pressure from TRIM5-sensitive viruses, possibly related to the endogenous lentivirus RELIK found in both rabbits and hares.
Fletcher
Adam J
AJ
MRC Centre for Medical Molecular Virology, Division of Infection and Immunity, University College London, Windeyer Building, London, United Kingdom.
Hué
Stéphane
S
Schaller
Torsten
T
Pillay
Deenan
D
Towers
Greg J
GJ
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D036022:Capsid Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D017931:DNA Primers / Q000235:genetics; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D014644:Genetic Variation; D005822:Genetic Vectors; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins; D034621:Hares / Q000235:genetics / Q000821:virology*; D016013:Likelihood Functions; D008957:Models, Genetic; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D012190:Retroviridae / Q000378:metabolism*; D016415:Sequence Alignment; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D013045:Species Specificity
D036022:Capsid Proteins; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D017931:DNA Primers; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins