Survey of human genes of retroviral origin: identification and transcriptome of the genes with coding capacity for complete envelope proteins.

ABSTRACT: Sequences of retroviral origin occupy approximately 8% of the human genome. Most of these "retroviral" genes have lost their coding capacities since their entry into our ancestral genome millions of years ago, but some reading frames have remained open, suggesting positive selection. The complete sequencing of the human genome allowed a systematic search for retroviral envelope genes containing an open reading frame and resulted in the identification of 16 genes that we have characterized. We further showed, by quantitative reverse transcriptase PCR using specifically devised primers which discriminate between coding and noncoding elements, that all 16 genes are expressed in at least some healthy human tissues, albeit at highly different levels. All envelope genes disclose significant expr

SUBMITTER: de Parseval N 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC228468 | biostudies-literature | 2003 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature