Authors: I A Maksakova D L Mager D Reiss
Publish Date: 2008/09/27
Volume: 65, Issue: 21, Pages: 3329-3347
Abstract
Endogenous retroviruslike elements or ERVs are an abundant component of all eukaryotic genomes Their transcriptional and retrotranspositional activities have great potential for deleterious effects on gene expression Consequences of such activity may include germline mutagenesis and cancerous transformation As a result mammalian genomes have evolved means of counteracting ERV transcription and mobilization In this review we discuss epigenetic mechanisms of ERV and LTR retrotransposon control during mouse development focusing on involvement of DNA methylation histone modifications small RNAs and their interaction with one another We also address relevance of research performed in the mouse system to human and challenges associated with studying repetitive families Part of a Multiauthor Review
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