Drosophila germline invasion by the endogenous retrovirus gypsy: involvement of the viral env gene

• Published in: Insect biochemistry and molecular biology Vol. 32; no. 10; pp. 1249 - 1256
• Main Authors: Pelisson, A., Mejlumian, L., Robert, V., Terzian, C., Bucheton, A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01.10.2002
• Subjects: Animals; Animals, Genetically Modified; Drosophila melanogaster - genetics; Endogenous Retroviruses - genetics; Endogenous Retroviruses - physiology; Envelope; Errantivirus; Evolution; Evolution, Molecular; Extracellular replication; flamenco; Genes, env; Germ Cells; Horizontal transfer; Host–retroelement interactions; Humans; Proviruses - genetics; Proviruses - physiology; Soma–germline chimera; Virus Replication; Horizontal transfer; Soma–germline chimera; Evolution; flamenco; Errantivirus; Extracellular replication; Host–retroelement interactions; Envelope
• ISSN: 0965-1748; 1879-0240
• DOI: 10.1016/S0965-1748(02)00088-7

The endogenous retrovirus gypsy is expressed at high levels in mutant flamenco female flies. Gypsy viral particles extracted from such flies can infect naive flamenco individuals raised in the presence of these extracts mixed into their food. This results in the integration of new proviruses into the germline genome. These proviruses can then increase their copy number by (1) expression in the flamenco female somatic cells, (2) transfer into the oocyte and (3) integration into the genome of the progeny. Surprisingly, unlike the infection observed in the feeding experiments, this strategy of endogenous proviral multiplication does not seem to involve the expression of the viral env gene.