title: The distribution of pol containing human endogenous retroviruses in non-human primates.
abstract: Few human endogenous retroviruses (HERVs) have been extensively studied in non-human primates. Such investigations have demonstrated that several element classes are primate unique, contain members with important biological function, are conserved in specific primate lineages, and have in some cases expanded in copy number. We have examined multiple sub-families of all major groups of HERVs using a DNA microarray based on the reverse transcriptase (RT) domain of the viral polymerase gene (pol). The microarray was used to investigate the distribution of HERVs in non-human primates with particular focus on the differences between New World monkeys (NWMs) and other anthropoids. This is the first study examining most HERV families in multiple non-human primate DNAs using a uniform and sensitive method and suggests that major differences exist between primate groups. The results indicate that a major invasion and expansion of pol containing HERVs occurred after the platyrrhine (NWM) lineage separated from the catarrhines (Old World Monkeys and apes).
authors.affiliation: GSF-National Research Center for Environment and Health, Institute of Molecular Virology, D-85764 Neuherberg, Germany. greenwood@gsf.de
authors.forename: Alex D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Greenwood
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Stengel
authors.forename: Volker
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Erfle
authors.forename: Wolfgang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Seifarth
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Leib-Mösch
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005075:Biological Evolution; D020077:Endogenous Retroviruses / Q000145:classification / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D015684:Gene Products, pol / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D015751:Genes, pol; D020411:Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis / Q000379:methods; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011323:Primates / Q000821:virology*; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
chemical_list: D015684:Gene Products, pol