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Placenta-Driven Evolution: Viral Gene Acquisition and PEG10's Essential Roles in Eutherian Placenta
Hirosuke Shiura1, Moe Kitazawa1, Tomoko Kaneko-Ishino2
1Faculty of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Yamanashi, Kofu 400-8510, Japan.
Biomolecules
|January 28, 2026
Summary
Virus-derived genes like PEG10 and PEG11/RTL1 were crucial for mammalian placenta evolution. This "placenta-driven evolution" highlights viral gene acquisition as a key driver of genomic innovation and vertebrate diversification.
Area of Science:
- Evolutionary biology
- Genomics
- Reproductive biology
Background:
- Mammalian placentation is a key evolutionary innovation.
- Virus-derived genes, particularly PEG10 and PEG11/RTL1, have distinct roles in placental development and divergence.
- These genes are part of the SIRH/RTL gene group with functions in both placenta and brain microglia.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the role of virus-derived genes in mammalian viviparity and placental evolution.
- To propose a framework of "placenta-driven evolution" driven by viral gene acquisition.
- To understand how extraembryonic tissues facilitated the domestication of viral sequences.
Main Methods:
- Comparative genomics analysis
- Evolutionary developmental biology studies
- Literature review of virus-host interactions in mammalian evolution
Main Results:
- PEG10 facilitated the emergence of therian viviparity.
- PEG11/RTL1 was involved in differentiating marsupial and eutherian placental types.
- Extraembryonic tissues provided environments for retaining and expressing viral sequences, driving genomic innovation.
Conclusions:
- Viral gene integration was fundamental to placenta establishment and subsequent eutherian evolution.
- The placenta acts as a powerful engine for evolution through recurrent acquisition of viral genes.
- Viral gene acquisition is a central mechanism in vertebrate genomic innovation and diversification.
Keywords:
PEG10PEG11/RTL1SIRH/RTL genesbrainextraembryonic tissuesmicroglianeuronplacentaplacenta-driven evolutionviral gene acquisitionyolk sacMore Related Videos
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