role of human endogenous retroviral long terminal repeats (ltrs) in maintaining the integrity of the human germ line角色的人类内源性逆转录病毒长末端重复(公升)在维护人类生殖细胞系的完整性.pdfVIP

Viruses 2011, 3, 901-905; doi:10.3390/v3060901 OPEN ACCESS viruses ISSN 1999-4915 /journal/viruses Commentary Role of Human Endogenous Retroviral Long Terminal Repeats (LTRs) in Maintaining the Integrity of the Human Germ Line Meihong Liu and Maribeth V. Eiden * Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Regulation, National Institute of Mental Health, 49 Convent Drive MSC 4483, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA; E-Mail: lmeihong@ * Author to whom correspondence should be addressed; E-Mail: eidenm@; Tel.:+1-301-402-1641 Fax: +1-301-402-1748. Received: 27 April 2011; in revised form: 10 June 2011 / Accepted: 15 June 2011 / Published: 21 June 2011 Abstract: Retroviruses integrate a reverse transcribed double stranded DNA copy of their viral genome into the chromosomal DNA of cells they infect. Occasionally, exogenous retroviruses infect germ cells and when this happens a profound shift in the virus host dynamic occurs. Retroviruses maintained as hereditable viral genetic material are referred to as endogenous retroviruses (ERVs). After millions of years of co-evolution with their hosts many human ERVs retain some degree of function and a few have even become symbionts. Thousands of copies of endogenous retrovirus long terminal repeats (LTRs) exist in the human genome. There are approximately 3000 to 4000 copies of the ERV-9 LTRs in the human genome and like other solo LTRs, ERV-9 LTRs can exhibit distinct promoter/enhancer