Evolution of endogenous retrovirus-like elements of the woolly mammoth (Mammuthus primigenius) and its relatives

Molecular Biology and Evolution
Alex D GreenwoodRoss D E MacPhee

Abstract

Endogenous retrovirus-like elements characterizable by a leucine tRNA primer (ERV-Ls) are reiterated genomic sequences known to be widespread in mammals, including humans. They may have arisen from an ancestral foamy virus-like element by successful germ line infection followed by copy number expansion. However, among mammals, only primates and rodents have thus far exhibited high copy number amplification and sequence diversification. Conventionally, empirical studies of proviral amplification and diversification have been limited to extant species, but taxa having good Quaternary fossil records could potentially be investigated using the techniques of "ancient" DNA research. To examine evolutionary parameters of ERV-Ls across both time and taxa, we characterized this proviral class in the extinct woolly mammoth (Mammuthus primigenius) and living elephants, as well as extant members of the larger clade to which they belong (Uranotheria, a group containing proboscideans, sirenians, hyraxes, and their extinct relatives). Ungulates and carnivores previously analyzed demonstrated low copy numbers of ERV-L sequences, and thus it was expected that uranotheres should as well. Here, we show that all uranothere taxa exhibit unexpectedl...Continue Reading

References

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Citations

Dec 11, 2003·American Journal of Physical Anthropology·Linda M Van Blerkom
Aug 21, 2003·Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution·Ludovic OrlandoCatherine Hänni
May 7, 2005·Proceedings. Biological Sciences·Eske Willerslev, Alan Cooper
Oct 13, 2004·BMC Evolutionary Biology·Alex D GreenwoodRoss D E MacPhee
Oct 8, 2005·BMC Evolutionary Biology·Ross D E MacPheeAlex D Greenwood
Nov 22, 2005·Genetics·Jonas BinladenEske Willerslev
Feb 16, 2013·Trends in Cell Biology·Wesley D GiffordTodd S Macfarlan
Apr 25, 2006·Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution·Cristian CapelliAlex D Greenwood
Oct 18, 2005·Current Opinion in Genetics & Development·Alfred L Roca, Stephen J O'Brien
Dec 1, 2004·Annual Review of Genetics·Svante PääboMichael Hofreiter
Mar 23, 2005·Virology·Alex D GreenwoodChristine Leib-Mösch
Dec 11, 2014·Annual Review of Animal Biosciences·Alfred L RocaNicholas J Georgiadis
Aug 30, 2018·Retrovirology·Robert J GiffordWelkin E Johnson

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