Isolation from Human Brain of Six Previously Unreported cDNAs Related to the Reverse Transcriptase of Human Endogenous Retroviruses

Abstract

cDNAs prepared from total RNA extracted from plaques of multiple sclerosis were amplified by the polymerase chain reaction. The 11-bp degenerate primers used were derived from conserved sequences of reverse transcriptase. Amplified cDNAs were fractionated according to size by electrophoresis in polyacrylamide gels under denaturing conditions. cDNAs of the proper size were cloned, grouped according to the sequence of their insert by differential hybridization, and sequenced. Six cDNAs were isolated and found to belong to new members of two groups of human endogenous retroviruses: the group related to ERV9 and that related to HERVK10 and HUMMTV. These sequences were expressed in all human organs tested, including normal white matter of brain. The approach described in this article is a powerful tool with which to isolate new members of the reverse transcriptase gene family.

Human T-Lymphotropic Virus Type 1 Mitochondrion-Localizing Protein p13 II Is Required for Viral Infectivity In Vivo

“…Proviral BLV clones that lacked G4 alone (21) or in combination with another BLV accessory protein, R3 (41), have reduced viral propagation (41) and an inability to induce lymphoma in a sheep model of BLV infection (21). Intriguingly, G4 is also reported to be a mitochondrion-localizing protein (25), and both p13 II and G4 directly interact with a cellular protein, farnesyl pyrophosphate synthase, which catalyzes the synthesis of farnesyl pyrophosphate, an essential substrate of Ras posttranslational modification (26). Collectively, these studies indicate a link between altered regulation of mitochondrion-induced Ras signaling and deltaretrovirus replication and associated disease.…”

Molecular mechanisms of poliovirus persistence: key role of capsid determinants during the establishment phase

“…Indeed, during viral persistence, housekeeping functions of the cell may not be altered, whereas specialized functions, like the secretion of insulin, may be affected, resulting in pathology at the level of the organism [7 -9]. Other viruses, in particular retro-, corona-and herpesviruses, are proposed to play a role in the development of autoimmune diseases such as multiple sclerosis [10][11][12][13].…”

Activation and regulation of endogenous retroviral genes in the human pituitary gland and related endocrine tumours

“…We identified positive RNA localization of Syncytin-A and Syncytin-B to the mouse pituitary gland of E18.5 and adult brains, which indicates conservation through evolution and supports our hypothesis that ERV gene expression in the central nervous system goes along with a normal physiological role. This assumption is sup- ported by other studies where ERV gene expression was detected in brain tissues from normal controls and patients with MS as well as other neurological diseases [53][54][55][56][57]. Other investigators also showed RNA expression of Syncytin-A in the murine adult brain, the hippocampus as well as total embryonic heads at E11.5 and E15.5.…”