An ancient family of human endogenous retroviruses encodes a functional homolog of the HIV-1 Rev protein.
Journal Article (Journal Article)
The human endogenous retrovirus K (HERV-K) family of endogenous retroviruses consists of approximately 50 proviral copies per haploid human genome. Herein, the HERV-Ks are shown to encode a sequence-specific nuclear RNA export factor, termed K-Rev, that is functionally analogous to the HIV-1 Rev protein. Like HIV-1 Rev, K-Rev binds to both the Crm1 nuclear export factor and to a cis-acting viral RNA target to activate nuclear export of unspliced RNAs. Surprisingly, this HERV-K RNA sequence, which is encoded within the HERV-K long terminal repeat, is also recognized by HIV-1 Rev. These data provide surprising evidence for an evolutionary link between HIV-1 and a group of endogenous retroviruses that first entered the human genome approximately 30 million years ago.
Full Text
Duke Authors
Cited Authors
- Yang, J; Bogerd, HP; Peng, S; Wiegand, H; Truant, R; Cullen, BR
Published Date
- November 9, 1999
Published In
Volume / Issue
- 96 / 23
Start / End Page
- 13404 - 13408
PubMed ID
- 10557333
Pubmed Central ID
- PMC23960
International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)
- 0027-8424
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
- 10.1073/pnas.96.23.13404
Language
- eng
Conference Location
- United States