Unknown

Dataset Information

0

Genomewide screening reveals high levels of insertional polymorphism in the human endogenous retrovirus family HERV-K(HML2): implications for present-day activity.


ABSTRACT: The published human genome sequence contains many thousands of endogenous retroviruses (HERVs) but all are defective, containing nonsense mutations or major deletions. Only the HERV-K(HML2) family has been active since the divergence of humans and chimpanzees; it contains many members that are human specific, as well as several that are insertionally polymorphic (an inserted element present only in some human individuals). Here we perform a genomewide survey of insertional polymorphism levels in this family by using the published human genome sequence and a diverse sample of 19 humans. We find that there are 113 human-specific HERV-K(HML2) elements in the human genome sequence, 8 of which are insertionally polymorphic (11 if we extrapolate to those within regions of the genome that were not suitable for amplification). The average rate of accumulation since the divergence with chimpanzees is thus approximately 3.8 x 10(-4) per haploid genome per generation. Furthermore, we find that the number of polymorphic elements is not significantly different from that predicted by a standard population genetic model that assumes constant activity of the family until the present. This suggests to us that the HERV-K(HML2) family may be active in present-day humans. Active (replication-competent) elements are likely to have inserted very recently and to be present at low allele frequencies, and they may be causing disease in the individuals carrying them. This view of the family from a population perspective rather than a genome perspective will inform the current debate about a possible role of HERV-K(HML2) in human disease.

SUBMITTER: Belshaw R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1211540 | biostudies-literature | 2005 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

altmetric image

Publications

Genomewide screening reveals high levels of insertional polymorphism in the human endogenous retrovirus family HERV-K(HML2): implications for present-day activity.

Belshaw Robert R   Dawson Anna L A AL   Woolven-Allen John J   Redding Joanna J   Burt Austin A   Tristem Michael M  

Journal of virology 20051001 19


The published human genome sequence contains many thousands of endogenous retroviruses (HERVs) but all are defective, containing nonsense mutations or major deletions. Only the HERV-K(HML2) family has been active since the divergence of humans and chimpanzees; it contains many members that are human specific, as well as several that are insertionally polymorphic (an inserted element present only in some human individuals). Here we perform a genomewide survey of insertional polymorphism levels in  ...[more]

Similar Datasets

| S-EPMC341815 | biostudies-literature
| S-EPMC110489 | biostudies-literature
| S-EPMC4473553 | biostudies-literature
| S-EPMC114460 | biostudies-literature
| S-EPMC3842806 | biostudies-other
| S-EPMC8328825 | biostudies-literature
| S-EPMC240736 | biostudies-literature
| S-EPMC4248984 | biostudies-literature
| S-EPMC3557288 | biostudies-literature
| S-EPMC3971560 | biostudies-literature