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Human endogenous retrovirus HERV-K113 is capable of producing intact viral particles

Kurt Schönfeld^1,

Stefanie Lischer^1,

¹ Paul-Ehrlich-Institut, Paul-Ehrlich-Straße 51–59, D-63225 Langen, Germany
² Robert Koch-Institut, Nordufer 20, D-13353 Berlin, Germany

Correspondence
Klaus Boller
bolkl{at}pei.de

Of all human endogenous retroviruses known today, HERV-K is the only one that has been shown to produce viral particles. While the first of the approximately 30 HERV-K sequences integrated into the human genome more than 40 million years ago, evidence is accumulating that HERV-K was active more recently, provirus HERV-K113 being the youngest sequence found. However, it is unclear which HERV-K sequences code for the viral particles that are produced by human germ-cell tumours or melanomas. Here, we show that the provirus HERV-K113, cloned into a baculovirus expression vector, is capable of producing intact particles of retroviral morphology, exhibiting the typical structure of those particles that were characterized in cell lines derived from human germ-cell tumours. Thus, the HERV-K113 sequence is a candidate for particle production in vivo and for an active human endogenous retrovirus of today.

Present address: Forschungslabor Hautklinik Heidelberg, Vossstraße 11, D-69115 Heidelberg, Germany.

Present address: EMPA, Lerchenfeldstrasse 5, CH-9014 St Gallen, Switzerland.

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