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ERVderived

ERVderived refers to genetic elements in a host genome that originate from endogenous retroviruses—viral integrations that occurred in the germline and have been inherited through generations. They include coding sequences derived from retroviral genes, their long terminal repeats (LTRs) that can act as promoters or enhancers, and other noncoding fragments. Most ERV copies are disrupted by mutations, deletions, and recombination, rendering them replication-incompetent, but some retain regulatory motifs or coding potential.

In humans and other vertebrates, ERV-derived sequences are widespread. In humans, they account for about 8% of

A prominent example of ERV domestication is the use of retroviral envelope genes in placental development.

Researchers study ERV-derived sequences as molecular fossils for evolutionary and comparative genomics, as sources of regulatory

the
genome.
While
most
ERV
copies
are
transcriptionally
silent,
some
can
be
expressed
under
certain
conditions,
and
a
few
intact
loci
have
given
rise
to
functional
proteins.
Syncytin-1,
derived
from
HERV-W,
and
Syncytin-2,
from
HERV-FRD,
mediate
fusion
of
placental
trophoblasts.
Beyond
such
domestication,
ERV-derived
LTRs
and
other
elements
frequently
act
as
regulatory
sequences
that
influence
the
expression
of
nearby
genes,
contributing
to
development
and
immune
responses.
ERV
activity
has
been
implicated
in
health
and
disease
contexts,
including
cancer
and
neurological
disorders,
though
causal
links
remain
under
study.
logic
in
the
genome,
and
as
potential
tools
in
biotechnology
and
medicine.