UC Davis Health & Shriners Hospitals for Children Northern California

INTRODUCTION

Endogenous retroviral elements (EREs), which are considered to be remnants of ancient as well as recent retroviral infections into the germline, have been identified in all vertebrates examined thus far. Substantial proportions of the mouse and human genomes are comprised of diverse forms of EREs. EREs, as well as other forms of repetitive elements, make up approximately 45% of the human and mouse genomes. Recent studies indicate that 8% of the human genome and 10% of the mouse genome consist of EREs. Although the majority of EREs are highly defective due to the deletion and/or introduction of stop codons in coding sequences, it has been demonstrated that there are a substantial number of biologically active EREs. EREs retaining the potential to replicate are capable of contributing to further germline insertions by the amplification of ERE copies through reinfection or retrotransposition. The consequences of activating EREs might be either beneficial or pathogenic to the host. EREs may also contribute to chromosomal rearrangement by homologous recombination, mainly via the LTR (long terminal repeat) sequences, and to insertional mutagenesis by random integration of proviral DNAs into the genome.

A comprehensive data set, comprised of the genomic map and the biological properties of EREs in the genomes of mice and humans, is essential for understanding their roles in normal physiologic as well as pathologic states.

LATEST UPDATES

[2-1-2008]
Updates and minor corrections have been made to the database (EREDB1.12).

[11-30-2007]
The database (EREDB1.12) will be complete and ready for public use on December 15, 2007.

[8-16-2007]
The database has been uploaded to the website. We are in the process of proofreading the data for accuracy and correcting possible programming bugs.