A family of retroviruses that utilize related phosphate transporters for cell entry

Abstract

The amphotropic murine retrovirus receptor Ram-1 shows significant sequence similarity to the gibbon ape leukemia virus (GALV) receptor Glvr-1, and both of these cell surface virus receptors normally function as sodium-dependent phosphate symporters. However, Ram-1 from humans or rats does not serve as a receptor for GALV, and Glvr-1 from humans does not serve as a receptor for amphotropic virus. Here we show that the murine retrovirus 10A1 can enter cells by using either Glvr-1 or Ram-1. Furthermore, we have constructed Ram-1/Glvr-1 hybrid receptors that allow entry of both GALV and amphotropic virus. While GALV and amphotropic virus are in separate interference groups when assayed on human cells, they do interfere with each other in cells expressing the hybrid receptor. These results indicate a close functional relationship between retroviruses that utilize members of this newly defined receptor family and provide a molecular explanation for nonreciprocal and cell type-specific interference observed for some retrovirus classes.