PROVIRAL ROLE IN MOUSE GENE REGULATION AND DIVERSITY

转座元件具有影响邻近表达的能力 细胞基因，因此有可能增加基因 通过改变基因调控来实现多样性。我们发现了一个新的例子 在遗传变异中，内源性小鼠前病毒赋予了 激素对邻近的性别限制蛋白基因的调节。SLP 源于补体(C4)基因的一个重复的第四组分 在主要组织相容性复合体内。与C4相比，SLP缺乏 补体活性和获得性雄激素调节，显然是从 前病毒LTR内的顺式作用序列。这是一种古老的前病毒 提供了一种独特的工具，用于确定预付费的程度 小鼠基因组中的荷尔蒙调节。 在结构和DNA序列上与前病毒上游相似的元件 将对SLP进行审查，以描绘推定成员之间的关系 并阐明他们的前科和后科 染色体整合。相关的前病毒将被测试一种能力 转录在基因转移后转录，尤指对 激素；反应元件的染色体侧翼序列将导致 直接与表达可能受以下因素影响的候选基因 前置入。因此，对这些基因的表征将揭示 转座子在调控变异中的意义。 这些前病毒还提供了用于跟踪分子事件的标记 复杂基因座内的多样性和多态是基础。在……里面 特别是，SLP是一个主要的小基因家族成员。 组织相容性复合体，其中的多态是非同寻常的 有选择性的价值。通过检查MU期间该地区的差异 物种形成，SLP上游的前病毒可能提供对 产生这种变异的机制。

Transposable elements have the capacity to affect expression neighboring cellular genes, and thus possess the potential to increase genetic diversity by altering gene regulation. We have discovered a novel example of genetic variation, in which an endogenous mouse provirus has conferred hormonal regulation on the adjacent sex-limited protein (Slp) gene. Slp arose from a tandemly duplicated fourth component of complement (C4) gene within the major histocompatibility complex. In contrast to C4, Slp lacks complement activity and has acquired androgen regulation, apparently from cis-acting sequences within the proviral LTR. This ancient provirus provides a unique tool for determining the extent of proviral imposition of hormonal regulation in the mouse genome. Elements similar in structure and DNA sequence to the provirus upstream of Slp will be examined to delineate a relationship of putative members of this proviral family and elucidate their history before and after chromosomal integration. Related proviruses will be tested for an ability to transcribe following gene transfer, particularly in response to hormones; chromosomal flanking sequences of responsive elements will lead directly to candidate genes whose expression may be influenced by proviral insertion. Characterization of such genes therefore will reveal the significance of transposons in regulatory variation. These proviruses also provide tags for tracing molecular events that underlie diversification and polymorphism within complex loci. In particular, Slp is a member of a small gene family in the major histocompatibility complex, within which polymorphism is of extraordinary selective value. By examining divergence in this region during Mus speciation, the provirus upstream of Slp may provide insight into mechanisms generating this variation.