Endogenous retrovirus group 3 member 1 envelope protein (ERV3-1)

Endogenous retrovirus group 3 member 1 envelope protein (ERV3-1) is a protein-coding gene remnant of a human endogenous retrovirus, localized on chromosome 7q11[1][2]. The locus is ancient, expressed in several normal tissues—including placenta, adrenal gland, skin, lung, pituitary, and testis[1][2]. It encodes an Env polyprotein homologous to gammaretroviral envelope proteins, with SU (surface) and TM (transmembrane) components. Unlike active exogenous retroviral Env proteins, ERV3-1 Env lacks fusogenic (membrane-fusing) activity in humans[3]. It retains a putative immunosuppressive domain, and in vitro it can inhibit cell proliferation by modulating cell cycle gene expression[2][3]. Only the 7q11 locus harbors a complete open reading frame; all other ERV3-like paralogs are inactivated. ERV3-1 has been reported overexpressed in some cancers and implicated in rare read-through fusions with ZNF117; however, it is not generally regarded as a therapeutic drug target[1][2][3]. The biological and pathological significance of ERV3-1 remains under investigation, with some evidence for roles in cancer, autoimmunity, and placental biology, but no established interacting small molecules or targeted therapies.

Other names

Endogenous retrovirus group 3 member 1 Env polyproteinERV3ERV3 envelope proteinERV-R envelope proteinHERV-RHERV-R_7q21.2 provirus ancestral Env polyproteinEnvelope polyproteinenvRSUTMSurface proteinTransmembrane proteinH-PLKERVRHERVRendogenous retroviral sequence 3endogenous retrovirus group 3, member 1