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The endosymbiont theory is the most widely accepted theory of eukaryotic evolution; however, its progression is still somewhat debated. According to the nucleus-first hypothesis, the ancestral prokaryote first evolved a membrane to enclose DNA and form the nucleus. Conversely, the mitochondria-first hypothesis suggests that the nucleus was formed after endosymbiosis of mitochondria.
Contrary to the endosymbiont theory, the eukaryote-first hypothesis proposes that the simpler prokaryotic and...
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Viruses are unique biological entities that blur the boundary between living and non-living systems. Although they lack cellular structure and metabolic processes, they can exhibit characteristics of life when infecting a host. Their defining feature is a nucleic acid core, composed of either DNA or RNA, encapsulated within a protein coat called a capsid. This simple structure allows them to invade host cells and use their machinery for replication efficiently.Viral Structure and...
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Around 4 billion years ago, oceans began to condense on earth while volcanic eruptions released nitrogen, carbon dioxide, methane, ammonia, and hydrogen into the primordial atmosphere. However, organisms with the characteristics of life were not initially present on earth. Scientists have used experimentation to determine how organisms evolved that could grow, reproduce, and maintain an internal environment.
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Retroviruses and retrotransposons both insert copies of their genetic elements into the genome of the host cell. Thus, the viral genes are passed on when the host genome is replicated or translated. A typical retroviral DNA sequence contains 3-4 genes that encode the different proteins required for its structural assembly and function as a molecular parasite. This DNA is transcribed into a single mRNA, which is very similar in structure to conventional mRNAs, i.e., it is capped at the 5’...
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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Mar 7, 2026

Single Cell Micro-aspiration as an Alternative Strategy to Fluorescence-activated Cell Sorting for Giant Virus Mixture Separation
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What Came First-the Virus or the Egg?

Robert W Doms1

  • 1The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.

Cell
|February 25, 2017
PubMed
Summary

Three studies reveal that the HAP2 protein is key for cell fusion in gametes. This protein is structurally similar to viral fusion proteins, suggesting a shared evolutionary origin for cell-cell and virus-cell fusion mechanisms.

Area of Science:

  • Cell biology
  • Virology
  • Genetics

Background:

  • Cell fusion is a fundamental biological process essential for reproduction and development.
  • Viral fusion proteins mediate the entry of viruses into host cells.
  • The molecular mechanisms underlying gamete fusion remain incompletely understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the molecular players involved in gamete fusion.
  • To determine the structural and functional relationship between gamete fusion proteins and viral fusion proteins.

Main Methods:

  • Comparative genomic analysis
  • Protein structure prediction
  • Functional assays for gamete fusion

Main Results:

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  • The single-pass transmembrane protein HAP2 was identified as a crucial mediator of gamete fusion.
  • HAP2 exhibits significant structural homology to class II fusion proteins found in viruses.
  • This similarity extends to viruses like dengue and Zika virus.

Conclusions:

  • HAP2 represents a conserved mechanism for mediating membrane fusion events.
  • The findings suggest a shared evolutionary origin for cellular and viral membrane fusion machinery.
  • HAP2 may serve as a target for therapeutic interventions in reproductive biology and infectious diseases.