Nucleic Acids Research, 1992, Vol. 20, No. 13 3397-3401
© 1992
MOLECULAR BIOLOGY |
Origin of the Alu family: a family of Alu-like monomers gave birth to the left and the right arms of the Alu elements
Theoretical Biology and Biophysics Group T-10, MS K710, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM 87545, USA
Received March 26, 1992. Revised May 28, 1992. Accepted May 28, 1992.
The Alu dimeric elements are a common feature of the primate genomes, where they constitute a family of related sequences (1). The identification of a free left Alu monomer (FLAM) family plus a free right Alu monomer (FRAM) family suggests that the dimeric structure results from the fusion of a FLAM sequence with a FRAM sequence (2). Here, we describe a very old Alu-like monomeric family, referred to as FAM for fossil Alu monomer. This family arose from a 7SL RNA sequence and gave birth to the FLAM and FRAM families. From the results obtained, the evolution of the Alu family can be subdivided into two phases. The first phase, which involves only monomeric elements, is characterized by deep remodelling of the progenitor sequences and ends with the appearance of the first Alu dimeric element through the fusion of a FLAM and a FRAM element. The second phase, still in progress, starts with the first Alu dimeric element. This phase is characterized by the stabilization of the progenitor sequences.
CiteULike 
Connotea 
Del.icio.us What's this?
This article has been cited by other articles:
|
|
 |
|
  J. Hasler and K. Strub Alu elements as regulators of gene expression Nucleic Acids Res., November 14, 2006; 34(19): 5491 - 5497. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
J. Hasler and K. Strub Alu RNP and Alu RNA regulate translation initiation in vitro. Nucleic Acids Res., January 1, 2006; 34(8): 2374 - 2385. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 M. Krull, J. Brosius, and J. Schmitz Alu-SINE Exonization: En Route to Protein-Coding Function Mol. Biol. Evol., August 1, 2005; 22(8): 1702 - 1711. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
H. Nishihara, Y. Terai, and N. Okada Characterization of Novel Alu- and tRNA-Related SINEs from the Tree Shrew and Evolutionary Implications of Their Origins Mol. Biol. Evol., November 1, 2002; 19(11): 1964 - 1972. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
C. Feschotte, N. Fourrier, I. Desmons, and C. Mouches Birth of a Retroposon: The Twin SINE Family from the Vector Mosquito Culex pipiens May Have Originated from a Dimeric tRNA Precursor Mol. Biol. Evol., January 1, 2001; 18(1): 74 - 84. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 K. Kriener, C. O'hUigin, and J. Klein Alu Elements Support Independent Origin of Prosimian, Platyrrhine, and Catarrhine Mhc-DRB Genes Genome Res., May 1, 2000; 10(5): 634 - 643. [Abstract] [Full Text]
|
|
|
|
|
|
C. N. Yandava, J. M. Gastier, J. C. Pulido, T. Brody, V. Sheffield, J. Murray, K. Buetow, and G. M. Duyk Characterization of Alu Repeats That Are Associated with Trinucleotide and Tetranucleotide Repeat Microsatellites Genome Res., July 1, 1997; 7(7): 716 - 724. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 F Bovia and K Strub The signal recognition particle and related small cytoplasmic ribonucleoprotein particles J. Cell Sci., January 11, 1996; 109(11): 2601 - 2608. [Abstract] [PDF]
|
|