title: Members of the RTVL-H family of human endogenous retrovirus-like elements are expressed in placenta.
abstract: A cDNA clone homologous to the RTVL-H family of human retrovirus-like elements was isolated from a human placenta cDNA library. The nucleotide sequence of the 1084-bp cDNA revealed an open reading frame (ORF) that may encode a 146 amino acid protein with significant homology to retroviral proteases. Downstream from the putative protease ORF a 3' long terminal repeat (LTR) containing U3 and R regions was found. The cDNA sequence ends in a poly(A) tail appropriately positioned downstream from a polyadenylation signal in the LTR. Northern-blot analysis showed that several distinct RTVL-H homologous transcripts are present in human placenta. We also show that repetitive RTVL-H homologous sequences are present in the genomes of both gorilla and African green monkey.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Medical Biology, University of Tromsø, Norway.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Johansen
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Holm
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bjørklid
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D002522:Chlorocebus aethiops / Q000235:genetics; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D004247:DNA / Q000302:isolation & purification; D004251:DNA Transposable Elements; D006071:Gorilla gorilla / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D015151:Immunoblotting; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010920:Placenta / Q000378:metabolism*; D012091:Repetitive Sequences, Nucleic Acid; D012190:Retroviridae / Q000235:genetics*; D012689:Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid
chemical_list: D004251:DNA Transposable Elements; D004247:DNA