Nefedova L N, Kim A I
Genetika. 2009 Jan;45(1):30-7.
Retrotransposons of the gypsy group of Drosophila melanogaster that are structurally similar to retroviruses of vertebrates occupy an important place among retroelements of eukaryotes. The infectious abilities of some retrotransposons of this group (gypsy, ZAM, and Idefix) have been demonstrated experimentally, and therefore they are true retroviruses. It is supposed that retrotransposons can evolve acquiring new components, the sources of which remain to be elucidated. In this work, the CG4680 gene (Gag related protein, Grp) homologous to gag of retrotransposons of the gypsy group has been identified in the genome of D. melanogaster and characterized. The Grp gene product has a highly conserved structure in different species of the Drosophilidae family and is under of stabilizing selection, which suggests its important genomic function in Drosophila. In view of the earlier data, it can be concluded that homologous genes of all components of gypsy retrotransposons are present in the Drosophila genome. These genes can be both precursors and products of domestication of retrovirus genes.
黑腹果蝇中与脊椎动物逆转录病毒结构相似的吉普赛族逆转座子在真核生物的逆转元件中占据重要地位。该族一些逆转座子（吉普赛、ZAM和伊德菲克斯）的感染能力已通过实验得到证实，因此它们是真正的逆转录病毒。据推测，逆转座子可以通过获取新成分而进化，其来源尚待阐明。在这项工作中，在黑腹果蝇基因组中鉴定并表征了与吉普赛族逆转座子gag同源的CG4680基因（Gag相关蛋白，Grp）。Grp基因产物在果蝇科的不同物种中具有高度保守的结构，并且处于稳定选择之下，这表明其在果蝇中具有重要的基因组功能。鉴于早期的数据，可以得出结论，吉普赛逆转座子所有成分的同源基因都存在于果蝇基因组中。这些基因既可以是逆转录病毒基因驯化的前体，也可以是其产物。
