Journal of Life Science (생명과학회지)

Korean Society of Life Science (한국생명과학회)
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Alu sequences and molecular features

Alu 서열과 분자생물학적 특징

  • Park Eun-Sil (Division of Biological Sciences, College of Natural Sciences, Pusan National University) ;
  • Hong Kyung-Won (Division of Biological Sciences, College of Natural Sciences, Pusan National University) ;
  • Kim Heui-Soo (Division of Biological Sciences, College of Natural Sciences, Pusan National University)
  • Published : 2004.12.01
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Abstract

During the past 65 million years, Alu sequences have been amplified through RNA-polymerase IIIderived transcripts, and have reached the copy number of about 1.4 million in primate genomes. They are the largest family among mobile genetic elements in human genome and consist of ten percent of the human genome. Alu sequences are thought to be functionless genetically, but many researchers have proved new function and disease implication. Alu elements make the genome insertional mutation, Alu-mediated recombination events, and unexpected splicing site and change gene structures, protein sequences, splicing motifs and expression patterns. In this review, the structure and origin of Alu, consensus sequences of Alu subfamilies, evolution and distribution of Alu, and their related diseases were described. We also indicated new research direction of Alu elements in relation to evolution and disease.

6500만년동안, Alu 서열은 RNA-중합효소 III에 의한 전사체를 통해 증폭해왔고, 영장류 게놈 내에 약 140만 복사의 수에 도달되었다. 그들은 가동성 인자 중에서 가장 큰 집단이며, 인간 게놈의 $10\%$를 구성한다. Alu 서열이 유전적으로 기능이 없다고 생각되었지만, 최근 많은 연구자들이 새로운 기능 및 질병과의 관련성을 증명해왔다 이들 Alu 서열은 삽입돌연변이, Alu-매개 재조합, 유전자 발현에 대해 유전자 전환 그리고 스플라이싱 사이트를 유발하고, 유전자 구조, 단백질 서열, 스플라이싱 모티프와 발현 양상에 영향을 준다. 우리는 Alu의 구조와 기원, 그들 패밀리의 컨센서스 서열, Alu의 진화와 분포 그리고 그들의 기능에 대하여 요약 정리하였다. 또한 영장류의 진화과정에 있어 질병과 관련하여 Alu 패밀리의 새로운 연구방향을 제시하였다.

Keywords

References

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