Sidorov A V, Blinov V M, Borzykh O A, Sleptsova I A, Zverev V V
Vopr Virusol. 1998 Jan-Feb;43(1):33-6.
The nucleotide sequence of the long terminal repeat (LTR) of human endogenous retrovirus element (HERV), localized in the first introne of the CD4 gene in the antisense direction, is determined. This new retrotransposon is highly homologous with different LTR HERV and belongs to HERV-K family. A peculiar feature of this element is an insertion of the Alu repeated sequence inside LTR. This Alu repeat has the same orientation as LTR HERV and contains two short open frames with a high level of homology with DAF (decay accelerating factor) proteins and the fifth complement component. In addition, this Alu repeat of LTR HERV contains regulatory elements: enhancer, TATAA box, poly A site, etc. Preservation of putative regulatory elements in the LTR suggests that they can render distinct regulatory properties to CD4 receptor gene.
