VNTR (VARIABLE NUMBER OF TANDEM REPEAT) SEQUENCES AS TRANSCRIPTIONAL,TRANSLATIONAL, OR FUNCTIONAL REGULATORS

VNTR (variable number of tandem repeat) markers, also called single-co py minisatellites, were originally isolated from human DNA as highly i nformative restriction fragment length polymorphisms for mapping purpo ses. Evidence has lately emerged that some VNTR sequences play signifi cant roles in the regulation of transcription, and that some may also influence the translational efficiency or stability of mRNA, or modify the activity of proteins by altering their structure. Some apparent a ssociations of VNTR sequences with personality traits or with suscepti bility to diseases have strengthened the likelihood that these tandeml y-repeated genomic elements are of physiological and biological import ance. In this review, we summarize recent progress in efforts to clari fy mechanisms involving VNTR sequences.