Phylogenetic relationships of a class of hominoid-specific retro-elements (SINE-R) on human chromosomes 7 and 17

SINE-R elements are a class of retroposon derived from the human endogenous retrovirus HERV-K that has been active in hominoid evolution and may include some members that are Homo sapiens specific. Both SINE-R elements and the HERV-K class of element have potential relevance to recent genome change. Here we report on sequences in the SINE-R class that can be detected on human chromosomes 7 and 17 and compare them with sequences that we have previously reported on the X chromosome and in hominoid primates. The retroposons on chromosomes 7 and 17 showed a high degree of sequence homology (88-96%) with other human retroposons (SINE-R.C2, 11, 14, 19, and HS307/HS408). Phylogenetic analysis using the neighbour-joining method revealed that SINE-R-type retroposons on chromosomes 7 and 17 were inter-related with those of hominoid primates, suggesting that various sub-classes of these retroposons have been evolving independently during hominoid evolution. One element (17-11) on chromosome 17 shares one hundred per cent identity with a 7-11 element on chromosome 7 which suggests either recent transposition or a chromosomal translocation. Thus further investigation of the chromosomal locations of SINE-R elements that together with the HERV-K LTR sequence from which they are derived have the capacity to influence the function of neighbouring cellular genes may be expected to clarify the potential role of these elements in recent hominoid evolution.