The C domain in the surface envelope glycoprotein of subgroup C feline leukemia virus is a second receptor-binding domain

Virology. 2008 Jan 20;370(2):273-84. doi: 10.1016/j.virol.2007.09.011. Epub 2007 Oct 22.

Abstract

The receptor-binding domain (RBD) in the surface (SU) subunit of gammaretrovirus envelope glycoprotein is critical for determining the host receptor specificity of the virus. This domain is separated from the carboxy terminal C domain (Cdom) of SU by a proline-rich region. In this study, we show that the Cdom region in the SU from subgroup C feline leukemia virus (FeLV-C) forms a second receptor-binding domain that is distinct from its RBD, and which can independently bind to its host receptor FLVCR1, in the absence of RBD. Furthermore, our results suggest that residues located in the C2 disulfide-bonded loop in FeLV-C Cdom are critical for SU binding to FLVCR1 and for virus infection. We propose that binding of FeLV-C SU to FLVCR1 involves interaction of two receptor-binding domains (RBD and Cdom) with FLVCR1, and that this mechanism of interaction is conserved for other gammaretroviruses. Our results could have important implications for designing gammaretrovirus vectors that can efficiently infect specific target cells.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Animals
  • Base Sequence
  • Binding Sites / genetics
  • Cats
  • Cell Line
  • DNA Primers / genetics
  • DNA, Viral / genetics
  • Gene Products, env / chemistry*
  • Gene Products, env / genetics
  • Gene Products, env / physiology*
  • Humans
  • Leukemia Virus, Feline / classification
  • Leukemia Virus, Feline / genetics
  • Leukemia Virus, Feline / pathogenicity
  • Leukemia Virus, Feline / physiology*
  • Membrane Transport Proteins / genetics
  • Membrane Transport Proteins / physiology
  • Mice
  • Models, Biological
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Protein Structure, Tertiary
  • Receptors, Virus / genetics
  • Receptors, Virus / physiology
  • Retroviridae Proteins, Oncogenic / chemistry
  • Retroviridae Proteins, Oncogenic / genetics
  • Retroviridae Proteins, Oncogenic / physiology
  • Sequence Homology, Amino Acid
  • Virulence

Substances

  • DNA Primers
  • DNA, Viral
  • FLVCR1 protein, human
  • Gene Products, env
  • Membrane Transport Proteins
  • Receptors, Virus
  • Retroviridae Proteins, Oncogenic
  • feline leukemia virus protein p15E