The coding region of the human c- mos pseudogene contains Alu repeat insertions

Abstract

We have determined the nucleotide sequence of an 841-bp fragment derived from a segment of the human genome previously cloned by Chumakov et al. [Gene 17 (1982) 19–26] and Zabarovsky et al. [Gene 23 (1983) 379–384] and containing regions homologous to the viral mos gene probe. This sequence displays homology with part of the coding region of the human and murine c- mos genes, contains several termination codons, and is interrupted by two Alu-family elements flanked by short direct repeats. Probably, the progenitor of the human c- mos gene was duplicated approximately at the time of mammalian divergence, was converted to a pseudogene, and acquired insertions of two Alu elements.