title: Multiple human endogenous retrovirus (HERV-K) loci with gag open reading frames in the human genome.
abstract: Human endogenous retrovirus HERV-K is present in 25-30 copies per haploid human genome. At least one of these loci is capable of producing full-length Gag protein, high amounts of which have been detected in germ cell tumors and derived cell lines. The latter display HERV-K Gag-encoded retroviral particles. Here, we employed the protein truncation test (PTT) in combination with a monochromosomal hybrid mapping panel to identify the human chromosomes harboring HERV-K gag genes with an open reading frame for Gag protein. Eight human chromosomes were found to contain intact HERV-K gag genes. PTT results were corroborated by partial sequencing of subregions from different HERV-K gag genes. The high number of HERV-K Gag open reading frames supports the idea of retroviral sequences retaining a biological benefit in the human genome.
authors.affiliation: Abt. Virologie, Institut für Medizinische Mikrobiologie und Hygiene, Universitätskliniken des Saarlandes, Homburg/Saar, Germany.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mayer
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Meese
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Mueller-Lantzsch
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D002874:Chromosome Mapping; D004247:DNA / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry; D015750:Genes, gag; D015894:Genome, Human; D006801:Humans; D006822:Hybrid Cells; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D008970:Molecular Weight; D016366:Open Reading Frames; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012190:Retroviridae / Q000235:genetics*; D012377:Rodentia; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA
chemical_list: D004247:DNA