Publications by authors named "A W Senft"
Article Synopsis
- - Mammalian brains have more neurons and complex connections than reptile brains, but how this complexity is genetically regulated is not well understood.
- - A protein called ZFP661 has been identified as crucial for preventing CTCF from inhibiting cohesin, which is important for proper neural development and connectivity.
- - Disruption of ZFP661 leads to issues in brain structure and social behaviors in mice, highlighting its role in both neural development and potential links to autism-like traits.
H3K4me1 methyltransferases MLL3 (KMT2C) and MLL4 (KMT2D) are critical for enhancer activation, cell differentiation and development. However, roles of MLL3/4 enzymatic activities and MLL3/4-mediated enhancer H3K4me1 in these processes remain unclear. Here we report that constitutive elimination of both MLL3 and MLL4 enzymatic activities prevents initiation of gastrulation and leads to early embryonic lethality in mice.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFTransposable elements (TEs) promote genetic innovation but also threaten genome stability. Despite multiple layers of host defence, TEs actively shape mammalian-specific developmental processes, particularly during pre-implantation and extra-embryonic development and at the maternal-fetal interface. Here, we review how TEs influence mammalian genomes both directly by providing the raw material for genetic change and indirectly via co-evolving TE-binding Krüppel-associated box zinc finger proteins (KRAB-ZFPs).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFArticle Synopsis
- The placenta is crucial in mammals for nutrient exchange and immune tolerance between mother and fetus, but its unique characteristics in humans compared to other mammals need further research.
- A study comparing the placentas of humans, macaques, and mice revealed many genes specifically expressed in humans, including those linked to pregnancy and embryonic development.
- The research also found that unique enhancers in the human placenta are often connected to endogenous retroviruses, which may play a role in immune response and function, highlighting how these genetic factors contribute to the evolution of the mammalian placenta.