Long-terminal repeat
(Science: molecular biology) identical dna sequences, several hundred nucleotides long, found at either end of transposons and the proviral dna, formed by reverse transcription of retroviral rna.
They are thought to have an essential role in integrating the transposon or provirus into the host dna. Long terminal repeats have inverted repeats, that is, sequences close to either end are identical when read in opposite directions. In proviruses the upstream long-terminal repeat acts as a promoter and enhancer and the downstream long-terminal repeat as a polyadenylation site.
Acronym: ltr
Dictionary > Long-terminal repeats
