Abstract
Analysis of a cat genomic DNA library showed that cats harbor a previously unrecognized endogenous type C retrovirus, whose env gene has homology to the murine Fv-4 resistance gene. This unique retrovirus, designated FcEV (Felis catus endogenous retrovirus), has a type C pol gene, closely related to the primate Papio cynocephalus endogenous virus (PcEV) pol, not overlapping the env gene, unlike in other type C retroviruses, and is presumably present in a higher copy number than RD-114. Phylogenetic analysis of FcEV and RD-114 fragments amplified from cat species and comparison with baboon endogenous virus (BaEV) fragments from monkeys suggested that RD-114 does not represent the cat strain of BaEV but is actually a new recombinant between FcEV type C genes and the env gene of BaEV. Although BaEV did appear to have infected an ancestor of the domestic cat lineage, it was a de novo recombinant that made its way into the cat germ line
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 7994-8002 |
Journal | Journal of Virology |
Volume | 73 |
Issue number | 10 |
Publication status | Published - 1999 |