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Related Concept Videos

Retrovirus Life Cycles01:10

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Retroviruses have a single-stranded RNA genome that undergoes a special form of replication. Once the retrovirus has entered the host cell, an enzyme called reverse transcriptase synthesizes double-stranded DNA from the retroviral RNA genome. This DNA copy of the genome is then integrated into the host’s genome inside the nucleus via an enzyme called integrase. Consequently, the retroviral genome is transcribed into RNA whenever the host’s genome is transcribed, allowing the...
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Mechanisms of Retrovirus-induced Cancers01:51

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Retroviruses are RNA viruses that have been shown to cause cancers in diverse species, including chickens, mice, cats, and monkeys. The RNA genomes of these viruses are first reverse-transcribed into single and then double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) copies. This dsDNA called proviral DNA then integrates into the host genome. Subsequently, the host cell transcribes the proviral DNA in concert with the chromosomal DNA. This leads to the production of viral RNA and proteins that assemble at the host...
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Retroviruses and retrotransposons both insert copies of their genetic elements into the genome of the host cell. Thus, the viral genes are passed on when the host genome is replicated or translated. A typical retroviral DNA sequence contains 3-4 genes that encode the different proteins required for its structural assembly and function as a molecular parasite. This DNA is transcribed into a single mRNA, which is very similar in structure to conventional mRNAs, i.e., it is capped at the 5’...
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LTR retrotransposons are class I transposable elements with long terminal repeats flanking an internal coding region. These elements are less abundant in mammals compared to other class I transposable elements. About 8 percent of human genomic DNA comprises LTR retrotransposons. Some of the common examples of LTR retrotransposons are Ty elements in yeast and Copia elements in Drosophila.
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Cells are sometimes infected by more than one virus at once. When two viruses disassemble to expose their genomes for replication in the same cell, similar regions of their genomes can pair together and exchange sequences in a process called recombination. Alternatively, viruses with segmented genomes can swap segments in a process called reassortment.
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Amplification, Next-generation Sequencing, and Genomic DNA Mapping of Retroviral Integration Sites
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Amplification, Next-generation Sequencing, and Genomic DNA Mapping of Retroviral Integration Sites

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Retrovirus Integration: Some Assembly Required?

Ibraheem Ali1, Ryan J Conrad1, Melanie Ott1

  • 1The Gladstone Institutes, University of California, San Francisco, 1650 Owens Street, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA.

Cell Host & Microbe
|December 16, 2016
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Retroviral integration typically involves chromatin packaging after viral DNA insertion. New research reveals chromatinization occurs *before* integration, challenging existing models of retroviral replication.

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Area of Science:

  • Molecular Biology
  • Virology
  • Epigenetics

Background:

  • Retroviral integration is a critical step in the viral life cycle.
  • Chromatin packaging of the viral genome is generally considered a post-integration event.
  • Histones play a role in regulating viral gene expression.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the timing of chromatinization relative to retroviral integration.
  • To explore the implications of pre-integration chromatinization for retroviral replication.
  • To understand the role of histones in the early stages of retroviral infection.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized advanced microscopy techniques to visualize viral genome dynamics.
  • Employed molecular assays to track viral DNA integration and chromatin formation.
  • Conducted experiments using cell culture models of retroviral infection.

Main Results:

  • Demonstrated that viral genome chromatinization precedes integration into the host DNA.
  • Observed specific histone modifications associated with the pre-integration viral complex.
  • Provided evidence that chromatin structure influences the integration process.

Conclusions:

  • Retroviral chromatinization is not solely a post-integration event.
  • Histone interactions with the viral genome occur prior to integration.
  • This pre-integration chromatinization may impact integration site selection and subsequent transcription.