The RNA transport element of the murine musD retrotransposon requires long-range intramolecular interactions for function.

Murine MusD retrotransposon: structure and molecular evolution of an "intracellularized" retrovirus.

We had previously identified active autonomous copies of the MusD long terminal repeat-retrotransposon family, which have retained transpositional activity. These elements are closely related to betaretroviruses but lack an envelope (env) gene. Here we show that these elements encode strictly intracellular virus-like particles that can unambiguously be identified by electron microscopy. We demo...

The “complex” RNA post-transcriptional element of a “simple” retrovirus

Replication of retroviruses and transposition of endogenous retroelements exploits a unique mechanism of post-transcriptional regulation as a means of exporting their incompletely-spliced mRNAs (which serve as both the genomic RNA and the template for protein synthesis). Following discovery of the Rev response element (RRE) that mediates nucleocytoplasmic export of the full-length and singly-sp...

''Intracellularized'' Retrovirus and Molecular Evolution of an Murine MusD Retrotransposon: Structure

Opossum APOBEC1 is a DNA mutator with retrovirus and retroelement restriction activity

APOBEC3s (A3s) are single-stranded DNA cytosine deaminases that provide innate immune defences against retroviruses and mobile elements. A3s are specific to eutherian mammals because no direct homologs exist at the syntenic genomic locus in metatherian (marsupial) or prototherian (monotreme) mammals. However, the A3s in these species have the likely evolutionary precursors, the antibody gene de...

Genetically regulated epigenetic transcriptional activation of retrotransposon insertion confers mouse dactylaplasia phenotype.

Dactylaplasia, characterized by missing central digital rays, is an inherited mouse limb malformation that depends on two genetic loci. The first locus, Dac, is an insertional mutation around the dactylin gene that is inherited as a semidominant trait. The second locus is an unlinked modifier, mdac/Mdac, that is polymorphic among inbred strains. Mdac dominantly suppresses the dactylaplasia phen...