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What Came First-the Virus or the Egg?
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
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:
- 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.
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