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Related Concept Videos

Retroviruses02:33

Retroviruses

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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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Mechanisms of Retrovirus-induced Cancers01:51

Mechanisms of Retrovirus-induced Cancers

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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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Retrovirus Life Cycles01:10

Retrovirus Life Cycles

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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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Non-LTR Retrotransposons03:18

Non-LTR Retrotransposons

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As the name suggests, non-LTR retrotransposons lack the long terminal repeats characteristic of the LTR retrotransposons. Additionally, both LTR and non-LTR retrotransposons use distinct mechanisms of mobilization. Non-LTR retrotransposons are further divided into two classes - Long interspersed nuclear elements (LINEs) and short interspersed nuclear elements (SINEs), both of which occur abundantly in most mammals, including humans. Some of the active non-LTR retrotransposons in humans are L1...
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LTR Retrotransposons03:08

LTR Retrotransposons

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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.
The internal coding region of LTR retrotransposons and their mechanism of transposition closely resembles a...
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Rous Sarcoma Virus (RSV) and Cancer01:03

Rous Sarcoma Virus (RSV) and Cancer

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Rous Sarcoma virus or RSV was discovered by F. Peyton Rous in the year 1911 as a filterable transmissible agent that could cause tumors in chickens. He won a Nobel Prize for this discovery in 1966. His experiments clearly demonstrated that some cancers could be caused by infectious agents and led to the discovery of many more cancer-causing viruses in animals as well as humans.
RSV is a retrovirus that contains two copies of a plus-strand  RNA genome. Its genome consists of four main open...
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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Oct 11, 2025

Microarray-based Identification of Individual HERV Loci Expression: Application to Biomarker Discovery in Prostate Cancer
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Human endogenous retroviruses in development and disease.

Jian Mao1, Qian Zhang1, Yu-Sheng Cong1

  • 1Key Laboratory of Aging and Cancer Biology of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou Normal University School of Basic Medical Sciences, Hangzhou, China.

Computational and Structural Biotechnology Journal
|December 1, 2021
PubMed
Summary

Human endogenous retroviruses (HERVs), remnants of ancient infections, are increasingly recognized for their roles beyond "junk DNA." This review highlights their involvement in key biological processes and diseases.

Keywords:
AgingCancerEmbryonic development and pluripotencyHuman endogenous retroviruses (HERVs)Neurodegenerative diseases

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Retroviral Scanning: Mapping MLV Integration Sites to Define Cell-specific Regulatory Regions
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Amplification, Next-generation Sequencing, and Genomic DNA Mapping of Retroviral Integration Sites
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Area of Science:

  • Genomics
  • Molecular Biology
  • Virology

Background:

  • Human endogenous retroviruses (HERVs) constitute approximately 8% of the human genome.
  • Initially considered

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review recent findings on the multifaceted roles of HERVs.
  • To explore the implications of HERVs in human health and disease.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of recent scientific findings on HERVs.
  • Synthesis of information regarding HERV functions and disease associations.

Main Results:

  • Most HERVs are non-functional due to mutations.
  • HERVs actively participate in biological processes by encoding proteins, acting as regulatory elements (promoters/enhancers), or producing lncRNAs.

Conclusions:

  • HERVs are implicated in embryonic development, pluripotency, cancer, aging, and neurodegenerative diseases.
  • The functional significance of HERVs in human biology and pathology is an expanding area of research.