Activation of Expression of Multiple Subfamilies of HumanAluElements by Adenovirus Type 5 and Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1

Abstract

The nearly one millionAlurepetitive elements in the human genome can be grouped into a number of subfamilies. Comparisons between subfamily consensus sequences suggest thatAluevolution is characterized by the sequential amplification and dispersal of a limited number ofAlufounder sequences. The S, Sb and Sb1 subfamilies provide an example of such a related series ofAlusubfamilies. We have previously demonstrated that adenovirus type 5 and herpes simplex virus type 1 activate RNA polymerase III transcription of endogenousAluelements in HeLa cells. Here, we report that expression ofAlusequences belonging to the S, Sb and Sb1 subfamilies was activated following infection with these viruses. The data indicate that transpositionally inactiveAluelements can give rise to high levels of pol III transcripts in the presence of appropriatetrans-acting factors and demonstrate that the class III promoters of a significant number and variety ofAlusequences are functionalin vivo. Multiple subfamilies ofAlusequences were induced in transformed and non-transformed cell types, suggesting that induction ofAluexpression may be part of the normal cellular response to viral infection.