Nucleotide sequence and phylogenetic analysis of long terminal repeats of human endogenous retrovirus K family (HERV-K) on human chromosomes.
It has been suggested that human endogenous retroviruses K family (HERV-K) has a role in disease, and solitary long terminal repeats (LTRs) of HERV-K have been potentially capable of affecting the expression of closely located genes. Using the human monochromosomes 8, 9, 17, and 18, with specific PCR primers, we identified thirty-four sequences of new HERV-K LTRs. Those LTR elements were analyzed phylogenetically with the human-specific HERV-K LTRs using neighbor-joining and maximum parsimony methods. Clones HKL8-5, HKL9-5, and HKL9-8 are related by more than 99% homology with the human-specific HERV-K LTRs. The HKL9-5 clone on chromosome 9 was 100% identical with the sequences of human-specific LTR, AC002400, on chromosome 16. The findings suggest that there has been recent proliferation, transposition, or chromosomal translocation of HERV-K LTR elements on human chromosomes.
Division of Biological Sciences, College of Natural Sciences, Pusan National University, Korea. khs307@hyowon.cc.pusan.ac.kr
H S
HS
Kim
J Y
JY
Choi
W H
WH
Lee
K L
KL
Jang
B H
BH
Hyun
D002877:Chromosomes, Human; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D020077:Endogenous Retroviruses / Q000235:genetics*; D014644:Genetic Variation; D006801:Humans; D006822:Hybrid Cells; D010802:Phylogeny; D017423:Sequence Analysis, RNA; D012689:Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid; D020079:Terminal Repeat Sequences
D004279:DNA, Viral