Murine Retrovirus Integration Site 1 (MRVI1)

MRVI1 is similar to a putative mouse tumor suppressor gene (Mrvi1) that is frequently disrupted by mouse AIDS-related virus (MRV). The encoded protein, which is found in the membrane of the endoplasmic reticulum, is similar to Jaw1, a lymphoid-restricted protein whose expression is downregulated during lymphoid differentiation. Studies in mouse suggest that MRV integration at Mrvi1 induces myeloid leukemia by altering the expression of a gene important for myeloid cell growth and/or differentiation, and thus this gene may function as a myeloid leukemia tumor suppressor gene. Several alternatively spliced transcript variants encoding different isoforms have been found for this gene, few of which initiate translation at a non-AUG (CUG) start site.