Endogenous retroviruses |
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Authors: | V Blikstad F Benachenhou G O Sperber J Blomberg |
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Institution: | (1) Cancer Biology Division, The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21231, USA;(2) Division of Biological Sciences, College of Natural Sciences, Pusan National University, Pusan, 609-735, South Korea; |
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Abstract: | Endogenous retroviruses (ERVs) most likely are remnants of ancient retroviral infections. ERVs preserve functions of exogenous
retroviruses to a varying extent, and can be parasites, symbionts or more or less neutral genetic ‘junk’.Their evolution has
two facets, pre- and post-endogenization. Although the two are not clearly separated, the first pertains to retroviral evolution
in general and the second to the fate of repetitive DNA and the evolution of the host organism and its genome. The study of
ERVs provides much material for the understanding of retroviral evolution. This sequence archive reflects the history of successes
and shortcomings of antiviral resistance, but also of strategic evolutionary decisions regarding genome organization and new
gene acquisition. This review discusses retroviral evolution illustrated through HERVs, bioinformatic prerequisites for ERV
studies, the endogenization process and HERV evolution post-endogenization, including relation to disease. (Part of a Multi-author
Review) |
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