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Host Noncoding Retrotransposons Induced by DNA Viruses: a SINE of Infection?
Journal article   Open access   Peer reviewed

Host Noncoding Retrotransposons Induced by DNA Viruses: a SINE of Infection?

Jessica M Tucker and Britt A Glaunsinger
Journal of virology, Vol.91(23), e00982-17
12/01/2017
DOI: 10.1128/JVI.00982-17
PMCID: PMC5686761
PMID: 28931686
url
https://europepmc.org/articles/pmc5686761View
Published (Version of record) Open Access

Abstract

Our genomes are dominated by repetitive elements. The majority of these elements derive from retrotransposons, which expand throughout the genome through a process of reverse transcription and integration. Short interspersed nuclear elements, or SINEs, are an abundant class of retrotransposons that are transcribed by RNA polymerase III, thus generating exclusively noncoding RNA (ncRNA) that must hijack the machinery required for their transposition. SINE loci are generally transcriptionally repressed in somatic cells but can be robustly induced upon infection with multiple DNA viruses. Recent research has focused on the gene expression and signaling events that are modulated by SINE ncRNAs, particularly during gammaherpesvirus infection. Here, we review the biology of these SINE ncRNAs, explore how DNA virus infection may lead to their induction, and describe how novel gene regulatory and immune-related functions of these ncRNAs may impact the viral life cycle.
Gene Expression Signal Transduction Animals DNA Viruses - genetics DNA Viruses - physiology Gene Expression Regulation, Viral Host-Pathogen Interactions Humans Mice Retroelements - genetics RNA Polymerase III - genetics RNA, Untranslated - genetics RNA, Untranslated - metabolism Short Interspersed Nucleotide Elements

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