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Updated: Jun 24, 2026
13:10
Use of Alu Element Containing Minigenes to Analyze Circular RNAs
Published on: March 10, 2020
Finding Alu in primate genomes with AF-1.
Ravi Shankar1, Bhavesh Kataria, Mitali Mukerji
1Department of Bioinformatics & Structural Biology, School of Life Sciences & Biotechnology, Indian Institute of Advanced Research, Gandhinagar, Gujarat, India. ravish@iiar.res.in
Bioinformation
|March 19, 2009
Summary
This study introduces AF1, a web server for identifying Alu elements in the human genome. AF1 uses advanced methods to find both common and diverged Alu sequences, aiding genomic research.
Area of Science:
- Genomics
- Bioinformatics
Background:
- Repetitive sequences constitute over 40% of the human genome.
- Alu elements are the second largest class of repeats, comprising nearly 10% of the genome.
- Alus play diverse roles in genomic and regulatory evolution, including causing aberrations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a specialized web server, AF1, for the identification of Alu-like elements.
- To provide a tool for analyzing the significant portion of the human genome occupied by repetitive sequences.
Main Methods:
- Utilizes alignment-based methodology for identifying Alu elements.
- Employs probabilistic scanning to detect more diverged Alu sequences.
- Implements precise element classification using sequence encoding with unequal weighting.
Main Results:
- Presents the AF1 web server for Alu element detection.
- Offers a method for finding both canonical and divergent Alu sequences.
- Provides enhanced classification of Alu elements based on sequence characteristics.
Conclusions:
- AF1 is a valuable resource for researchers studying Alu elements and their role in the human genome.
- The server enhances the ability to analyze repetitive DNA, contributing to understanding genomic evolution and disease.
- AF1 is freely available, promoting accessibility for the scientific community.
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