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Related Concept Videos

Retroviruses02:33

Retroviruses

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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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Retrovirus Life Cycles01:10

Retrovirus Life Cycles

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Retroviruses have a single-stranded RNA genome that undergoes a special form of replication. Once the retrovirus has entered the host cell, an enzyme called reverse transcriptase synthesizes double-stranded DNA from the retroviral RNA genome. This DNA copy of the genome is then integrated into the host’s genome inside the nucleus via an enzyme called integrase. Consequently, the retroviral genome is transcribed into RNA whenever the host’s genome is transcribed, allowing the...
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Rous Sarcoma Virus (RSV) and Cancer01:03

Rous Sarcoma Virus (RSV) and Cancer

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Rous Sarcoma virus or RSV was discovered by F. Peyton Rous in the year 1911 as a filterable transmissible agent that could cause tumors in chickens. He won a Nobel Prize for this discovery in 1966. His experiments clearly demonstrated that some cancers could be caused by infectious agents and led to the discovery of many more cancer-causing viruses in animals as well as humans.
RSV is a retrovirus that contains two copies of a plus-strand  RNA genome. Its genome consists of four main open...
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LTR Retrotransposons03:08

LTR Retrotransposons

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LTR retrotransposons are class I transposable elements with long terminal repeats flanking an internal coding region. These elements are less abundant in mammals compared to other class I transposable elements. About 8 percent of human genomic DNA comprises LTR retrotransposons. Some of the common examples of LTR retrotransposons are Ty elements in yeast and Copia elements in Drosophila.
The internal coding region of LTR retrotransposons and their mechanism of transposition closely resembles a...
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Mechanisms of Retrovirus-induced Cancers01:51

Mechanisms of Retrovirus-induced Cancers

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Retroviruses are RNA viruses that have been shown to cause cancers in diverse species, including chickens, mice, cats, and monkeys. The RNA genomes of these viruses are first reverse-transcribed into single and then double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) copies. This dsDNA called proviral DNA then integrates into the host genome. Subsequently, the host cell transcribes the proviral DNA in concert with the chromosomal DNA. This leads to the production of viral RNA and proteins that assemble at the host...
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Non-LTR Retrotransposons03:18

Non-LTR Retrotransposons

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As the name suggests, non-LTR retrotransposons lack the long terminal repeats characteristic of the LTR retrotransposons. Additionally, both LTR and non-LTR retrotransposons use distinct mechanisms of mobilization. Non-LTR retrotransposons are further divided into two classes - Long interspersed nuclear elements (LINEs) and short interspersed nuclear elements (SINEs), both of which occur abundantly in most mammals, including humans. Some of the active non-LTR retrotransposons in humans are L1...
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dArc1 controls sugar reward valuation in Drosophila melanogaster.

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Feb 22, 2026

Targeting the Corticospinal Tract in Neonatal Rats with a Double-Viral Vector using Combined Brain and Spine Surgery
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Arc - An endogenous neuronal retrovirus?

Jason D Shepherd1

  • 1Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, The University of Utah School of Medicine, 4539 SMBB, 36 S. Wasatch Dr., Salt Lake City, UT, 84112, United States.

Seminars in Cell & Developmental Biology
|September 25, 2017
PubMed
Summary

The neuronal gene Arc, crucial for memory, may have evolved from ancient retroviruses. This finding sheds light on Arc

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Evolutionary Biology
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • The neuronal gene Arc is vital for long-term memory formation in mammals.
  • Arc's evolutionary origins and potential links to neurological disorders are poorly understood.
  • Previous research suggests Arc may originate from vertebrate Ty3/gypsy retrotransposons.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the evolutionary origins of the neuronal gene Arc.
  • To explore the potential retroviral ancestry of Arc.
  • To understand the molecular basis of Arc's function and evolution.

Main Methods:

  • Comparative genomic analysis to identify homologous sequences.
  • Phylogenetic analysis to reconstruct evolutionary relationships.
Keywords:
ArcEvolutionGagHIVRetrotransposonRetrovirusSynaptic plasticity

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  • Bioinformatic tools to analyze protein sequence homology.

    • Main Results:

    • Mammalian Arc shows significant homology to the Gag polyprotein of Ty3/gypsy retrotransposons.
    • This homology suggests a retroviral origin for Arc.
    • Arc may share molecular characteristics with retroviruses, including those involved in viral capsid formation.

    Conclusions:

    • The neuronal gene Arc likely originated from a vertebrate retrotransposon lineage.
    • Arc's retroviral ancestry provides insights into its molecular functions.
    • Understanding Arc's evolution may illuminate its role in neurological disorders.