Expression Profiles of Endogenous Retroviruses in Old World Monkeys

Abstract

Human endogenous retroviruses (HERVs) are a major component of the human genome and an active part of the transcriptome. Some HERVs play vital biological roles, while others potentially contribute to diseases. Many HERVs are relatively new in the primate genome, having entered or expanded after the lineages leading to the platyrrhines (New World monkeys) and catarrhines (Old World monkeys and apes) separated. Most HERVs are active in at least some tissues, though tissue specificity is common for most elements. We analyzed multiple tissues from several Old World monkeys using retroviral pol-based DNA microarrays and quantitative PCR methods to determine their ERV expression profiles. The results demonstrate that while many ERVs are active in nonhuman primates, overall the tissue expression specificity is unique to each species. Most striking is that while the majority of HERVs analyzed in this study are expressed in human brain, almost none are expressed in Old World monkey brains or are only weakly expressed.

A novel endogenous betaretrovirus group characterized from polar bears (Ursus maritimus) and giant pandas (Ailuropoda melanoleuca)

“…In the different tissue types available for study from polar bears, expression could be detected only in the brain and only from the most complete UmaERV present in the genome. Brain expression is consistent with ERV expression in many other species where transcription of ERVs can be detected (Greenwood et al, 2011b; Stengel et al, 2006). However, given that the results are derived from post mortem tissues, it cannot be ruled out that RNA quality may have failed to detect low level transcription in additional tissues.…”

“…The viral protein in all identified UmaERVs contained premature stops and deletions that coupled with the lack of detection of widespread transcriptional activity suggest this ERV group has not been recently active. This contrasts with other betaretroviral groups such as HERV-K related elements in humans and non-human primates for which both young and old elements show transcriptional activity (Seifarth et al, 2005; Stengel et al, 2006). Whether this reflects differences in suppression of ERVs in different species or a biological difference in bears such as lower concentration of ERV relevant transcription factors remains to be determined.…”

A Novel Function of RNAs Arising From the Long Terminal Repeat of Human Endogenous Retrovirus 9 in Cell Cycle Arrest

“…Cell lines were maintained at 37°C in a humidified atmosphere of 5% CO 2 . Human cancer cells (MDA231, MCF-7, K562, LNcap, HepG2, HT1080, HTB77 and HTB78 cells) were cultured in either Dulbecco modified Eagle medium (DMEM) or RPMI medium.…”

“…uman endogenous retroviruses (HERVs) comprise approximately 8% of the human genome (1), and have physiological functions as well as a potential role in some human diseases (2). During primate evolution, thousands of copies of solitary long terminal repeats (sLTRs) were generated due to duplications of the founder provirus genome followed by recombinational deletion of most of the proviral genome, leaving intact sLTRs (3).…”

Caracterização e dinâmica evolutiva de retrovírus endógenos da família K (ERV-K) em genomas de primatas.

“…Embora existam diversos estudos de atividade de ERV-K em humanos, infelizmente ainda são escassos os trabalhos que investigam o mesmo em primatas não humanos Stengel et al, 2006). Porém, o número de códons sob seleção encontrado em PongERV-K concordam com a filogenia, que mostra um grupo relativamente recente originado por atividade.…”