Abstract:

In the eukaryotic genomes, many repetitive DNA sequences were identified in the introns of genes and intervals between the genes, even though they are not translated into protein. Recently these sequences were characterized to participate in regulation of gene expression. Among these repetitive sequences, a retrotransposon called LINE-1, which is widely distributed in the genome, is found to play an important role in cell proliferation, differentiation and tumorigenesis through the mechanisms of affecting gene transcription, genome stability, X chromosome inactivation and genomic evolution, etc. It is known that the aberration of spatial and temporal regulation of gene contributes to tumorigenesis. This article mainly elaborated the structure feature of LINE-1 and the adjusting and control function in the genome that affect gene expression and regulate the biological activities. So the studies on LINE-1 apparently facilitate to understand the formation and development of cancer.

Key words: regulation and control of gene expression, LINE-1 retrotransposon, cell proliferation and differentiation, cancer

摘要：

近年来研究发现真核生物基因组中的许多重复序列以及基因的内含子参与基因表达的调控。在这些重复序列中,有一种广泛分布于基因组中的逆转座子LINE-1,目前发现其对细胞的增殖与分化以及肿瘤的发生起着非常重要的作用,具体表现为影响基因的转录及整个基因组的稳定性、参与X染色体失活及基因组进化等。在正常细胞的分化调控中,基因的激活与沉默具有时间与空间的特异性,实现其“预定”的、有序的、不可逆转的分化过程。主要阐述了逆转座子LINE-1的结构特征和其在基因组中的调控作用及这些作用影响基因表达从而调节生物体的生命活动。研究LINE-1的调控机制对认识细胞的时空调控以及癌症的发生与发展具有重要的价值。

关键词: 基因表达调控;LINE-1逆转座子;细胞增殖分化;癌症