Retroviral envelope proteins mediate receptor recognition and membrane fusion during early infection. Endogenous envelope proteins may have kept, lost or modified their original function during evolution. This envelope protein has superantigenic properties.
SU mediates receptor recognition.
TM anchors the envelope heterodimer to the viral membrane through one transmembrane domain. The other hydrophobic domain, called fusion peptide, mediates fusion of the viral membrane with the target cell membrane (By similarity).
Subcellular locations: Cell membrane
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: Virion
Expressed at higher level in the thymus. Expressed at lower level in peripheral blood lymphocytes.