Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42095673›Full record

ArticleJournal of virology2026

Crystal structure of HERV-K envelope glycoprotein surface subunit.

Nikos Nikolopoulos, Yorgo Modis

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Journal of virology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

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Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

2 authors.

Nikos NikolopoulosMolecular Immunity Unit, Department of Medicine, MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom.
Yorgo ModisMolecular Immunity Unit, Department of Medicine, MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom.ORCID 0000-0002-6084-0429

Funding

Wellcome Trust 217191/Z/19/Z
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

The most recently acquired and transcriptionally active family of human endogenous retroviruses (HERVs) is HERV-K. Of the approximately 100 copies of HERV-K in our genome, many retain the potential to proliferate by retrotransposition, express viral proteins, and form functional virus particles. Aberrant expression of the HERV-K envelope glycoprotein (Env) has been associated with cancer and neurodegeneration. Autoantibodies against HERV-K Env have been found in patients with various autoimmune diseases. Here, we report the crystal structure of the Env surface subunit (SU) from HERV-K HML-2, determined at 2.25-Å resolution. The overall fold is somewhat similar to Syncytin-2 SU and distantly related to HIV-1 gp120. The structure contains five disulfides, four N-linked glycans, and two sulfate ions bound to a basic surface groove. Two extended loops form a surface for potential interactions with cell-surface receptors or other cellular factors. The structure also contains three steroid molecules bound to hydrophobic surface patches. This crystal structure provides a platform for future studies to map autoantigenic epitopes, identify small molecules that interfere with HERV-K activity, and extend our mechanistic understanding of retroviruses.IMPORTANCEEight percent to 15% of the human genome consists of endogenous retroviruses and other virus-derived elements inherited from ancestral viral infections. Many endogenous retroviruses from the HERV-K family retain the ability to proliferate across the genome and produce virus-like particles. Aberrant expression of the HERV-K envelope glycoprotein is associated with cancer, neurodegeneration, and autoimmune disease. Here, we report the crystal structure of the HERV-K envelope glycoprotein surface subunit. The structure provides an atomic-level view of the molecular components in HERV-K most likely to trigger autoimmune responses and identifies potential binding sites for drug-like molecules and cell-surface polysaccharides.

Indexed as

Endogenous RetrovirusesGene Products, envViral Envelope ProteinsCrystallography, X-RayHumansModels, MolecularProtein ConformationGene Products, envViral Envelope Proteinsbetaretrovirusendogenous retrovirusenvelope glycoproteinligand binding siteN-linked glycosylationreceptor-binding proteinX-ray crystallography

Identifiers

PMID42095673
PMCPMC13288639

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.