HERV-K

Full Name: Human Endogenous Retrovirus-K

BACKGROUND: Human Endogenous Retroviruses (HERV) are remnants of past retroviral infections during human evolution and constitute about 8% of the human genome. Most HERVs are dysfunctional and subsequently silent due to extensive mutations and deletions in their encoded genes. HERV-K species, especially the HML-2 clade, is the most recent to enter the human genome, perhaps as recently as 150,000 years ago. There are estimated to be approximately 1000 HERV-K insertions and between 30 and 50 HERV-K proviruses in the human genome. Certain HERV-K loci are capable of expressing all of the viral proteins, and viral particle formation has been detected in teratocarcinoma cell lines.

Synonyms: HERV-K envelope polypeptide; Human endogenous retrovirus-K; Human endogenous retrovirus K; HERV-K