Endogenous Retroviruses Walk a Fine Line between Priming and Silencing
Endogenous retroviruses (ERVs) in mammals are closely related to infectious retroviruses and utilize host tRNAs as a primer for reverse transcription and replication, a hallmark of long terminal repeat (LTR) retroelements. Their dependency on tRNA makes these elements vulnerable to targeting by smal...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2020-07-01
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| Series: | Viruses |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4915/12/8/792 |
| _version_ | 1797561539486547968 |
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| author | Harrison Cullen Andrea J. Schorn |
| author_facet | Harrison Cullen Andrea J. Schorn |
| author_sort | Harrison Cullen |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Endogenous retroviruses (ERVs) in mammals are closely related to infectious retroviruses and utilize host tRNAs as a primer for reverse transcription and replication, a hallmark of long terminal repeat (LTR) retroelements. Their dependency on tRNA makes these elements vulnerable to targeting by small RNAs derived from the 3′-end of mature tRNAs (3′-tRFs), which are highly expressed during epigenetic reprogramming and potentially protect many tissues in eukaryotes. Here, we review some key functions of ERV reprogramming during mouse and human development and discuss how small RNA-mediated silencing maintains genome stability when ERVs are temporarily released from heterochromatin repression. In particular, we take a closer look at the tRNA primer binding sites (PBS) of two highly active ERV families in mice and their sequence variation that is shaped by the conflict of successful tRNA priming for replication versus evasion of silencing by 3′-tRFs. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T18:16:19Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-c52230bba8c2492c93d58bc948dbb736 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1999-4915 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T18:16:19Z |
| publishDate | 2020-07-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Viruses |
| spelling | doaj.art-c52230bba8c2492c93d58bc948dbb7362023-11-20T07:44:05ZengMDPI AGViruses1999-49152020-07-0112879210.3390/v12080792Endogenous Retroviruses Walk a Fine Line between Priming and SilencingHarrison Cullen0Andrea J. Schorn1Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, NY 11724, USACold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, NY 11724, USAEndogenous retroviruses (ERVs) in mammals are closely related to infectious retroviruses and utilize host tRNAs as a primer for reverse transcription and replication, a hallmark of long terminal repeat (LTR) retroelements. Their dependency on tRNA makes these elements vulnerable to targeting by small RNAs derived from the 3′-end of mature tRNAs (3′-tRFs), which are highly expressed during epigenetic reprogramming and potentially protect many tissues in eukaryotes. Here, we review some key functions of ERV reprogramming during mouse and human development and discuss how small RNA-mediated silencing maintains genome stability when ERVs are temporarily released from heterochromatin repression. In particular, we take a closer look at the tRNA primer binding sites (PBS) of two highly active ERV families in mice and their sequence variation that is shaped by the conflict of successful tRNA priming for replication versus evasion of silencing by 3′-tRFs.https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4915/12/8/792endogenous retrovirus (ERV)tRNA-fragment (tRF)small RNA silencingtRNA primer binding site (PBS)RNA interference (RNAi)intracisternal A-particle (IAP) |
| spellingShingle | Harrison Cullen Andrea J. Schorn Endogenous Retroviruses Walk a Fine Line between Priming and Silencing Viruses endogenous retrovirus (ERV) tRNA-fragment (tRF) small RNA silencing tRNA primer binding site (PBS) RNA interference (RNAi) intracisternal A-particle (IAP) |
| title | Endogenous Retroviruses Walk a Fine Line between Priming and Silencing |
| title_full | Endogenous Retroviruses Walk a Fine Line between Priming and Silencing |
| title_fullStr | Endogenous Retroviruses Walk a Fine Line between Priming and Silencing |
| title_full_unstemmed | Endogenous Retroviruses Walk a Fine Line between Priming and Silencing |
| title_short | Endogenous Retroviruses Walk a Fine Line between Priming and Silencing |
| title_sort | endogenous retroviruses walk a fine line between priming and silencing |
| topic | endogenous retrovirus (ERV) tRNA-fragment (tRF) small RNA silencing tRNA primer binding site (PBS) RNA interference (RNAi) intracisternal A-particle (IAP) |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4915/12/8/792 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT harrisoncullen endogenousretroviruseswalkafinelinebetweenprimingandsilencing AT andreajschorn endogenousretroviruseswalkafinelinebetweenprimingandsilencing |