Structural and functional studies of murine Mbo I repeat LTR (MRL) retroviral genes on the Y chromosome

Conference · Fri Mar 15 04:00:00 EST 1991 · FASEB Journal (Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology); (United States)

OSTI ID:5242280

Ch'ang, L Y; Hoyt, P R; Wang, T H; Kanagala, R; Henley, D C; Yang, D M; Yang, W K ^[1]

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1. (Oak Ridge National Lab., TN (United States))

The mouse genome harbors approximately 200 copies of MRL retroviral elements (or MuRRs) that are preferentially expressed in the reproductive system. The MRL retroviral gene family is wildly distributed in the genus Mus. About 10% of the elements are located on the Y chromosome and the abundance is probably due to gene amplification. Multiple copies of Y chromosome-specific MRL retroviral sequences are present only in the genome of M spretus and M. musculus. Structural and sequence analyses revealed a truncation of the male-specific MRL elements isolated from a BALB/c mouse DNA library. Consequently, two-thirds of an intact LTR was retained at the 5{prime} end and the 3{prime} structure was disrupted immediately downstream of the pol gene with a concomitant loss of the 3{prime} LTR. Southern analysis of male and female mouse DNA confirmed that sequences adjacent to the 3{prime} breakpoint were Y chromosome specific. These sequences are length polymorphic in nature and appear to be co-amplified with MRL retroviral genes on the Y chromosome. A collinear cDNA of 9.5 kb containing fused MRL and Y chromosome sequences was also isolated from a testis library. The LTR of male-specific MRL elements was unable to drive the expression of the bacterial CAT gene in cultured mouse NIH/3T3 and mink CCL64 cells. However, when its enhancer domain was linked to an SV40 promoter, the CAT gene was expressed at a significant level. Differential binding activities to male-specific MRL were found in nuclear extracts of the liver, kidney, and testis.

• DOE Contract Number: AC05-84OR21400
• OSTI ID: 5242280
• Report Number(s): CONF-9104107--
• Conference Information: Journal Name: FASEB Journal (Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology); (United States) Journal Volume: 5:5
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

550400* -- Genetics
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
ANIMALS
BODY
CHROMOSOMES
DIGESTIVE SYSTEM
DNA SEQUENCING
GENE AMPLIFICATION
GENE REGULATION
GLANDS
GONADS
HETEROCHROMOSOMES
KIDNEYS
LIVER
MALE GENITALS
MAMMALS
MICE
MOLECULAR STRUCTURE
ORGANS
RODENTS
STRUCTURAL CHEMICAL ANALYSIS
TESTES
VERTEBRATES
Y CHROMOSOME