This endogenous retroviral envelope protein has retained its original fusogenic properties and participates in trophoblast fusion and the formation of a syncytium during placenta morphogenesis. May induce fusion through binding of SLC1A4 and SLC1A5 ( ).
Endogenous envelope proteins may have kept, lost or modified their original function during evolution. Retroviral envelope proteins mediate receptor recognition and membrane fusion during early infection. The surface protein (SU) mediates receptor recognition, while the transmembrane protein (TM) acts as a class I viral fusion protein. The protein may have at least 3 conformational states: pre-fusion native state, pre-hairpin intermediate state, and post-fusion hairpin state. During viral and target cell membrane fusion, the coiled coil regions (heptad repeats) assume a trimer-of-hairpins structure, positioning the fusion peptide in close proximity to the C-terminal region of the ectodomain. The formation of this structure appears to drive apposition and subsequent fusion of membranes.
Subcellular locations: Cell membrane
The surface protein is not anchored to the membrane, but localizes to the extracellular surface through its binding to TM.
Subcellular locations: Cell membrane
Subcellular locations: Virion
Expressed at higher level in placental syncytiotrophoblast. Expressed at intermediate level in testis. Seems also to be found at low level in adrenal tissue, bone marrow, breast, colon, kidney, ovary, prostate, skin, spleen, thymus, thyroid, brain and trachea. Both mRNA and protein levels are significantly increased in the brain of individuals with multiple sclerosis, particularly in astrocytes and microglia.