Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 1, 2025
07:39
Mouse In Vivo Placental Targeted CRISPR Manipulation
Published on: April 14, 2023
2.8K
Endogenous Retroviruses and Placental Evolution, Development, and Diversity
Kazuhiko Imakawa1, Kazuya Kusama2, Tomoko Kaneko-Ishino3
1Research Institute of Agriculture, Tokai University, Kumamoto 862-8652, Japan.
Cells
|August 12, 2022
Summary
Placentas protect fetuses and regulate nutrient exchange. Endogenous retroviruses (ERVs) influence placental evolution, but their role in structural diversity remains unclear, prompting new research into ERV integration and placental divergence.
Area of Science:
- Reproductive biology
- Evolutionary genetics
- Genomics
Background:
- Placentas are vital for mammalian pregnancy, providing protection, nutrient/gas exchange, and hormonal regulation.
- Despite conserved functions, placental structures exhibit significant diversity across mammals.
- Endogenous retroviruses (ERVs) have been implicated in placental evolution, but their contribution to structural divergence is not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of endogenous retroviruses (ERVs) in explaining the structural diversity of mammalian placentas.
- To explore how ERVs are sorted and integrated into mammalian genomes.
- To provide novel insights into the evolutionary mechanisms driving placental structural divergence.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of ERV integration patterns within mammalian genomes.
- Comparative genomics to study ERV sorting and regulatory element co-option.
- Investigating the impact of ERV elements on placental gene regulation and evolution.
Main Results:
- Identified specific patterns of ERV integration contributing to genomic differences.
- Demonstrated how co-opted ERV gene control elements can drive structural evolution.
- Provided a framework for understanding ERV-mediated diversification of placental forms.
Conclusions:
- ERV integration and sorting are key factors in mammalian placental structural evolution.
- Understanding ERV dynamics offers new explanations for placental diversity.
- This research provides novel insights into the genomic basis of reproductive adaptations.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
02:33Retroviruses
12.6K
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’...
12.6K
03:08LTR Retrotransposons
17.8K
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...
The internal coding region of LTR retrotransposons and their mechanism of transposition closely resembles a...
17.8K
01:10Retrovirus Life Cycles
46.6K
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...
46.6K
03:18Non-LTR Retrotransposons
11.8K
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...
11.8K
01:26Size and Structure of Viral Genomes
119
Viral genomes exhibit remarkable diversity in size, structure, and composition, influencing their replication strategies and interactions with host cells. These genomes consist of either DNA or RNA and may be linear or circular. Additionally, they can be single-stranded or double-stranded, with each configuration affecting how the virus propagates within a host. RNA viruses, for instance, generally have smaller genomes than DNA viruses, a factor that contributes to their high mutation rates and...
119
01:51Mechanisms of Retrovirus-induced Cancers
5.2K
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...
5.2K