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Pluripotency and the endogenous retrovirus HERVH: Conflict or serendipity?

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Item Type:Article
Title:Pluripotency and the endogenous retrovirus HERVH: Conflict or serendipity?
Creators Name:Izsvák, Z. and Wang, J. and Singh, M. and Mager, D.L. and Hurst, L.D.
Abstract:Remnants of ancient retroviral infections during evolution litter all mammalian genomes. In modern humans, such endogenous retroviral (ERV) sequences comprise at least 8% of the genome. While ERVs and other types of transposable elements undoubtedly contribute to the genomic "junk yard", functions for some ERV sequences have been demonstrated, with growing evidence that ERVs can be important players in gene regulatory processes. Here we focus on one particular large family of human ERVs, termed HERVH, which several recent studies suggest has a key regulatory role in human pluripotent stem cells. Remarkably, this is not the first instance of an ERV controlling pluripotency. We speculate as to why this convergent evolution might have come about, suggesting that it may reflect selection on the virus to extend the time available for transposition. Alternatively it may reflect serendipity alone.
Keywords:Endogenous Retrovirus, ERV, Host Defense, LBP9, Naive, Pluripotency, Primate, Animals
Source:BioEssays
ISSN:0265-9247
Publisher:Wiley-Blackwell
Volume:38
Number:1
Page Range:109-117
Date:January 2016
Additional Information:Copyright © 2015 WILEY Periodicals, Inc.
Official Publication:https://doi.org/10.1002/bies.201500096
PubMed:View item in PubMed

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