Definition: The Alu sequence family (named for the restriction endonuclease cleavage enzyme Alu I) is the most highly repeated interspersed repeat element in humans (over a million copies). It is derived from the 7SL RNA component of the SIGNAL RECOGNITION PARTICLE and contains an RNA polymerase III promoter. Transposition of this element into coding and regulatory regions of genes is responsible for many heritable diseases.
Other names Sequences, Alu Repetitive; Sequence, Alu Repetitive; Repetitive Sequences, Alu; Repetitive Sequence, Alu; Family, Alu; Families, Alu; Elements, Alu; Element, Alu; Alu Repetitive Sequence; Alu Families; Alu Element; Alu-Like Repetitive Sequence; Alu Repetitive Sequences; Alu Family
