Human endogenous retrovirus K14C drove genomic diversification of the Y chromosome during primate evolution

Abstract

The male-specific region of Y chromosome (MSY) has accumulated a higher density of human endogenous retroviruses (HERVs) and related sequences when compared with other regions of the human genome. Here, we focused on one HERV family, HERV-K14C that seemed to integrate preferentially into the Y chromosome in humans. To identify every copies of HERV-K14C in the human genome, we applied computational screening to map precisely the locus of individual HERV-K14C copies. Interestingly, 29 of all 146 copies were located in Y chromosome, and these 29 copies were mostly dispersed in the palindromic region. Three distinct HERV-K14C-related transcripts were found and were exclusively expressed in human testis tissue. Based on our phylogenetic analysis of the solitary LTRs derived from HERV-K14C on the Y chromosome we suggested that these sequences were generated as pairs of identical sequences. Specifically, analysis of HERV-K14C-related sequences in the palindromic region demonstrated that the Y chromosomal amplicons existed in our common ancestors and the duplicated pairs arose after divergence of great apes approximately 8-10 million years ago. Taken together, our observation suggested that HERV-K14C-related sequences contributed to genomic diversification of Y chromosome during speciation of great ape lineage.

Human endogenous retroviruses and the inflammatory response: A vicious circle associated with health and illness

“…The impact of the HERV-K 14C on host genomic diversity is probably among the most elegant examples. By analyzing the multiple-copy element K14C in human and primate Y chromosome, the authors demonstrated that despite the integration being present in more ancient primate hosts, the duplication event happened no longer than 10 million years ago, indicating that this retroelement contributed to the genomic diversification of this chromosome during speciation of particular primate lineages ( 25 ).…”

From Ancient to Emerging Infections: The Odyssey of Viruses in the Male Genital Tract

“…Several ERVs are located on the male Y chromosomes of human and NHPs (360,638,639), providing evidence of their transmission through the male gametes in these species. Specific characteristics of the Y chromosome, such as reduced recombination and low number of functional genes, may have prevented the loss of integrated sequences and allowed integration with no deleterious effect (360), thus favoring viral endogenization.…”

Endogenous Retrovirus 3 – History, Physiology, and Pathology

“…Endogenous retroviruses are preferentially located on the Y chromosomes of human, chimpanzee and orang-utan ( Sin et al, 2010 ). It has been suggested that reduced recombination of the Y chromosome renders loss of integrated sequences less likely.…”