Co-option of retroviral genes: diversity and evolution in vertebrates
Abstract
Endogenous retroviruses (ERVs) are remnants of retroviral sequences that integrated into the host germline genome and are inherited across generations. Occasionally, the protein-coding genes within ERVs have been co-opted as host genes and contribute to diverse biological processes. In early studies, the identified ERV-derived genes remained taxonomically restricted to model organisms. Recently, however, the increasing availability of vertebrate genome assemblies has expanded the known repertoire of ERV-derived genes across diverse lineages. Here, I review the current knowledge of ERV-derived genes and how the era of comparative genomics is reshaping our understanding of the vertebrate ERV-derived genes. I first describe the processes of ERV endogenization, genomic expansion, and co-option. Then, I summarize the known functions of ERV-derived genes in vertebrates and the methodology of comparative genomic approaches to discover ERV-derived genes. I further discuss evolutionary models of ERV-derived genes, which will become increasingly important for understanding the broad pattern of their evolution. This review also provides a catalog of ERV-derived genes, including recently identified genes of unknown function. By integrating findings from recent comparative genomic studies, this review provides an updated view of how ERV-derived genes have contributed to vertebrate evolution.
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BibTeX
@article{kitao2026cooption,
title = {{Co-option of retroviral genes: diversity and evolution in vertebrates}},
author = {Koichi Kitao},
journal = {Genes \& Genetic Systems},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.1266/ggs.26-00068},
url = {https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/ggs/101/0/101_26-00068/_article},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Co-option of retroviral genes: diversity and evolution in vertebrates
AU - Koichi Kitao
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/21
JO - Genes & Genetic Systems
DO - 10.1266/ggs.26-00068
UR - https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/ggs/101/0/101_26-00068/_article
AB - Endogenous retroviruses (ERVs) are remnants of retroviral sequences that integrated into the host germline genome and are inherited across generations. Occasionally, the protein-coding genes within ERVs have been co-opted as host genes and contribute to diverse biological processes. In early studies, the identified ERV-derived genes remained taxonomically restricted to model organisms. Recently, however, the increasing availability of vertebrate genome assemblies has expanded the known repertoire of ERV-derived genes across diverse lineages. Here, I review the current knowledge of ERV-derived genes and how the era of comparative genomics is reshaping our understanding of the vertebrate ERV-derived genes. I first describe the processes of ERV endogenization, genomic expansion, and co-option. Then, I summarize the known functions of ERV-derived genes in vertebrates and the methodology of comparative genomic approaches to discover ERV-derived genes. I further discuss evolutionary models of ERV-derived genes, which will become increasingly important for understanding the broad pattern of their evolution. This review also provides a catalog of ERV-derived genes, including recently identified genes of unknown function. By integrating findings from recent comparative genomic studies, this review provides an updated view of how ERV-derived genes have contributed to vertebrate evolution.
SN - 1880-5779
SN - 1341-7568
ER -