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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
PubMed

The main roles of placentas include physical protection, nutrient and oxygen import, export of gasses and fetal waste products, and endocrinological regulation. In addition to physical protection of the fetus, the placentas must provide immune protection throughout gestation. These basic functions are well-conserved; however, placentas are undoubtedly recent evolving organs with structural and cellular diversities. These differences have been explained for the last two decades through co-opting genes and gene control elements derived from transposable elements, including endogenous retroviruses (ERVs). However, the differences in placental structures have not been explained or characterized. This manuscript addresses the sorting of ERVs and their integration into the mammalian genomes and provides new ways to explain why placental structures have diverged.

Keywords:
endogenous retrovirus (ERV)mammalsplacentastructural diversity

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