Scientists have discovered a crucial link between ancient viruses and the development of myelination, a process essential for advanced nervous system functioning in vertebrates. The study reveals that a genetic element derived from retroviruses, called "RetroMyelin," is vital for myelin production in a wide range of vertebrates, including mammals, amphibians, and fish. This finding suggests that viral sequences integrated into early vertebrate genomes played a pivotal role in the evolution of myelination, enabling the development of complex brains and diverse vertebrate life. The research sheds light on the molecular mechanisms of myelin production and its evolutionary origins, opening new avenues for understanding the role of retroviruses in directing evolution.
A study published in Cell reveals that ancient retroviruses are responsible for the development of myelin, a crucial component of complex vertebrate brains. The discovery of "RetroMyelin," a gene sequence derived from ancient retroviruses, highlights the impact of viral genes on vertebrate evolution. Experimental disruption of RetroMyelin in zebrafish and frogs led to significantly reduced myelin production, demonstrating its functional role in myelination across mammals, amphibians, and fish. This research challenges previous understandings of evolutionary biology and opens new avenues for exploring the intricate relationship between viruses and vertebrate development.
Researchers have discovered a link between a 500-million-year-old viral infection and the early stages of embryo development, shedding new light on the role of endogenous retroviruses in regulating pluripotency factors. The study, conducted on mouse embryos, identified a retroviral protein called MERVL-gag that influences the transition from totipotent to pluripotent cells, a crucial step in embryo specialization. This finding has implications for artificial embryo creation, regenerative medicine, and understanding fertility issues, highlighting the important functions of ancient retroviruses that have co-evolved with complex organisms over millions of years.
Researchers have discovered that ancient retroviruses, specifically LINE-1, play a complex role in early embryonic development. Through computational analyses, scientists found a cluster of cells in the embryo that exhibited DNA damage and precursors to apoptosis, which they named "REjects." However, surviving cells expressed HERVH, another retrovirus that suppresses LINE-1 and protects pluripotent cells from harm. The study sheds light on the intricate interactions within the genome and may have implications for regenerative medicine and understanding early pregnancy losses.
An international research collaboration has discovered that endogenous retrovirus activation increases a fetus’s susceptibility to autism and that BTBR/R mice display autistic-like behaviors without reduced learning ability, making them a more accurate autism model than the widely-used BTBR/J model. These findings could aid in better autism classification and development of new treatment strategies for neurodevelopmental disorders. The study also suggests that it may be possible to develop new treatments for autism that suppress ERV activation.
