Alu Elements (also known as Alu Element, Element, Alu): 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 contai

NIH MeSH · D020087Phenomena and Processes

Alu Elements

Also known asAlu Element · Element, Alu · Elements, Alu · Alu Family · Alu Families · Families, Alu · Family, Alu · Alu Repetitive Sequences · Alu Repetitive Sequence · Repetitive Sequence, Alu · Repetitive Sequences, Alu · Sequence, Alu Repetitive

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.

MeSH classification

  • G02.111.570.080.708.330.800.800.050
  • G05.360.080.708.330.800.800.050
  • G05.360.340.024.425.800.800.050

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Common questions about Alu Elements

What does Alu Elements mean in medicine?
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. This definition is taken from the National Library of Medicine's MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) 2026 release, which is the standard vocabulary used to index PubMed and most medical literature.
Is Alu Elements known by any other names?
Yes. Alu Elements is also referred to as Alu Element, Element, Alu, Elements, Alu, Alu Family in different clinical, research and patient-facing contexts. The MeSH descriptor groups all of these synonyms under a single canonical concept so research and records stay consistent.
Where does Alu Elements sit in the medical classification?
Alu Elements falls under the broader medical category "Phenomena and Processes" in the MeSH hierarchy (tree numbers: G02.111.570.080.708.330.800.800.050, G05.360.080.708.330.800.800.050, G05.360.340.024.425.800.800.050). Browsing the related concepts on this page takes you to neighbouring topics in the same branch of medicine.
Where can I get a plain-language explanation of Alu Elements?
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Source: NIH MeSH 2026 (D020087) — National Library of Medicine, public domain. View official MeSH record ↗