Efforts to establish a GFP-ERV env expression vector using trophoblast cell cultures as target gene source.

Abstract

The purpose of this project is to clone the envelope gene of human endogenous retrovirus-W (hERV-W) into a commercial GFP containing expression vector. This is being pursued in order to generate a fusion gene for use as a marker in several of our placental studies. This gene, HERV-W was reported and subsequently confirmed to be the protein which mediates developmental cellular fusion in the trophoblast of normal human placenta. Our lab is very interested to construct this vector to aid in studies focused on cytoskeletal changes in the normal placental trophoblast.