Abstract

The human chemokine receptor (CKR) genes CCR2, CCR6, CCR7, CCR9, CCR10, CXCR4, and CXCR5 harbor one or two introns. CCR7, CCR9, CCR10, and CXCR5 introns, (but not CCR2, CCR6, and CXCR4 introns) encompass retrovirus-like inserts with the characteristics of SINEs (short interspersed nuclear elements) up to 300 nucleotides (nt) long. Other characteristic elements of the retroviral genome, such as long terminal repeats and gag, pol, and env genes, are lacking. The inserts likely derived from one (or more) of the following retroviruses: XA34 (NCBI GenBank Nucleotides, U29659), HERV-P-T47D (AF087913), ERV FTD (U27241), HERV-K (Y17832), HML6p (U86698), HERV-H/env60 (AJ289710), XA38 (U37066). Virus-like inserts are remarkably homogeneous in all CKR introns, with nt identities of about 80%. Percentages of nt identities between the CKR inserts and the corresponding viral sequences are also about 80%. With reference to the CKR sequence, the viral sequence aligns in some instances Plus/Plus (XA34, HML6p, HERV-H/env60, and XA38) and in other instances Plus/Minus (HERV-P-T47D, ERV FTD, and HERV-K). Some aspects of the evolution of retroviruses and CKRs as well as hypotheses on the biological significance of the SINE inserts are discussed.

Autore Pugliese

• Sisto Margherita , Panaro Maria Antonietta , Calvello Rosa

Tutti gli autori

• CIANCIULLI A.;SISTO M.;PANARO M.A.;CALVELLO R.

Titolo volume/Rivista

Non Disponibile

Anno di pubblicazione

2011

ISSN

0892-3973

ISBN

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Numero di citazioni Wos

Nessuna citazione

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Numero di citazioni Scopus

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Ultimo Aggiornamento Citazioni

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Settori ERC

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Codici ASJC

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