Gammaretrovirus

The Gammaretrovirus (mammalian type C retroviruses) is a sister genus to the lentivirus clade. Like the lentivirus, it is a member of the Orthoretrovirinae subfamily of the retrovirus family. The Murine leukemia virus (MLV or MuLV), the Feline leukemia virus (FeLV), the Gibbon ape leukemia virus (GALV), and Xenotropic murine leukemia virus-related virus (XMRV) are members of the Gammaretrovirus genus. XMRV is a relative of MuLV that can can be isolated from human prostate tumor cells. Both ends of Gammaretrovirus genome are flanked by long terminal repeats (LTRs). The gag region of its genome codes for MA, pp12, CA, and NC. These accessory proteins are cleaved by protease. The pro/pol region codes for PR, RT, and IN. These are also cleaved by protease. Genomes of mammalian type C retroviruses contain a UAG termination codon between the gag and pol coding regions. The env gene codes for SU and TM which are again cleaved by protease.