The development of the embryo is connected with a retrovirus, which is more than 500 million years old – scientists
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A crucial early stage of embryonic development involves a virus that mixed with the DNA of complex organisms more than 500 million years ago.
This is stated in a study by scientists from the Spanish National Center for Cancer Research (CNIO), published in the journal Science Advances, writes Science Alert.
Scientists have discovered in human DNA the genetic material of endogenous retroviruses that “attacked” the oldest organisms on Earth. Its share is 8-10% of the total information.
The connection between viruses and embryo growth was established by scientists who created artificial embryos and developed regenerative medicine.
| Photo: Ivantsov/Depositphotos |
“Until recently, these viral remnants were considered junk DNA, genetic material that was unusable or even harmful. It was intuitively believed that the presence of viruses in the genome indicated something was wrong“, says biologist Sergio de la Rosa from the CNIO.
By studying mouse models in detail, the team was able to identify a retroviral protein called MERVL-gag. It helps control the pace of embryo development just a few hours after fertilization.
The key development involved is that the first few totipotent cells (capable of becoming any of the cells that make up the entire body) give rise to pluripotent cells (capable of becoming cells that make any tissue in the body, but not the tissue of the placenta ).
The scientists discovered that MERVL-gag is affected by a gene called URI, which is thought to be important in allowing the molecules to become pluripotent.
“We are beginning to realize that retroviruses that have evolved with us over millions of years have important functions, including the regulation of other genes“, adds de la Rosa.
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