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Cited by 5Chromosomal and Genetic VariationsEvolution and Genetic DynamicsGenomics and Phylogenetic Studies

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Pre-Cambrian origin of envelope-carrying retrotransposons in metazoans

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Chary, Shashank, Hayashi, Rippei·2026·eLife
DOI 10.7554/elife.108449PMC PMC13524379

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Abstract

Retrotransposons or endogenous retroviruses (ERVs) essentially carry open reading frames of gag and pol , which are utilized to selfishly replicate themselves in the host germline genome. One rare example of ERVs that additionally carry envelope genes is Ty3/gypsy errantiviruses in Drosophila . Though they are structurally analogous to retroviruses, it remained unclear whether envelope -containing Ty3/gypsy elements represent recent, lineage-specific acquisitions of viral fusogens or an ancient association between retrotransposons and envelope -like genes. We systematically searched for intact envelope -containing ERVs that are homologous to Ty3/gypsy in invertebrate metazoan genomes and found that they are widespread across taxa, including ancient animals. such as cnidarians, ctenophores, and tunicates. Many elements occur as multiple highly similar copies in their respective genomes, consistent with recent genomic expansion in some host lineages. Envelope genes are classified into those that resemble glycoprotein F from paramyxoviruses and glycoprotein B from herpesviruses, and both types are equally abundant and widespread. Phylogenetic and structural analyses revealed that envelope genes have largely diverged with pol genes as well as with the host organisms throughout their evolutionary history and recombined infrequently, suggesting that the envelope acquisition to ERVs is ancient and likely dates to before the split of bilaterian and non-bilaterian animals in the Pre-Cambrian era.

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Metadata

Authors
Chary, S., & Hayashi, R.
Affiliations
Australian National University (AU)
Corresponding author
Hayashi, Rippei
ORCID
Venue
eLife
Publisher
eLife Sciences Publications, Ltd
Published
2026-08-28
Volume
14
ISSN
2050-084X (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.7554/elife.108449
PMC
PMC13524379
OpenAlex
W4416864306
Cited by
5
References
3
Citations by year
2026: 3
Type
posted content
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • eLife (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • eLife (acceptedVersion, cc-by)
  • bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory) (acceptedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion)
Funders
Australian Research Council (DP210102385)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Genetics › Chromosomal and Genetic Variations
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Genetics › Evolution and Genetic Dynamics
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Genomics and Phylogenetic Studies
Keywords
retrotransposons, endogenous retroviruses, env gene, animal evolution, Cnidaria, ctenophores, tunicates, glycoprotein B, pol gene, recombination, host-virus coevolution
MeSH terms
Animals, Invertebrates, Phylogeny, Retroelements, Evolution, Molecular, Endogenous Retroviruses

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