Endogenous retroviruses (ERVs) occupy a significant part of the human genome, with some encoding proteins that influence the immune system or regulate cell-cell fusion in early extra-embryonic development. However, whether ERV-derived proteins regulate somatic development is unknown. Here, we report a somatic developmental function for the primate-specific ERVH48-1 (SUPYN/Suppressyn). ERVH48-1 encodes a fragment of a viral envelope that is expressed during early embryonic development. Loss of ERVH48-1 led to impaired mesoderm and cardiomyocyte commitment and diverted cells to an ectoderm-like fate. Mechanistically, ERVH48-1 is localized to sub-cellular membrane compartments through a functional N-terminal signal peptide and binds to the WNT antagonist SFRP2 to promote its polyubiquitination and degradation, thus limiting SFRP2 secretion and blocking repression of WNT/β-catenin signaling. Knockdown of SFRP2 or expression of a chimeric SFRP2 with the ERVH48-1 signal peptide rescued cardiomyocyte differentiation. This study demonstrates how ERVH48-1 modulates WNT/β-catenin signaling and cell type commitment in somatic development.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.stem.2024.07.006 | DOI Listing |
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A
January 2025
Department of Cell Biology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27701.
In species with genetic sex determination (GSD), the sex identity of the soma determines germ cell fate. For example, in mice, XY germ cells that enter an ovary differentiate as oogonia, whereas XX germ cells that enter a testis initiate differentiation as spermatogonia. However, numerous species lack a GSD system and instead display temperature-dependent sex determination (TSD).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFInt J Legal Med
January 2025
Faculty of Medicine, Lucian Blaga University of Sibiu, Sibiu, 550169, Romania.
The burnout phenomenon is a subject of considerable interest due to its impact on both employee well-being and scientific inquiry. Workplace factors, both intrinsic and extrinsic, play a pivotal role in its development, often leading to job dissatisfaction and heightened burnout risk. Chronic stress and burnout induce significant dysregulation in the autonomic nervous system and hormonal pathways, alongside structural brain changes.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFFish Physiol Biochem
January 2025
Fish Nutrition, Biochemistry and Physiology Division, ICAR-Central Institute of Fisheries Education, Versova, Andheri West, Mumbai, 400061, Maharashtra, India.
A 60-day feeding trial was conducted to evaluate the combined effect of dietary soy phytoestrogens, specifically genistein and daidzein, on the gonadal recrudescence and maturation of male Cyprinus carpio (Linnaeus, 1758). Adult male C. carpio (60 ± 10 g) were fed with a diet with no added genistein or daidzein (C), 110 mg/100 mg genistein (GL), 210 mg/100 g genistein (GH), 4 mg/100 g daidzein (DL), 8 mg/100 g daidzein (DH), combination of 110 mg/100 mg genistein and 4 mg/100 g daidzein (DGL, equivalent to 17.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCurr Protoc
January 2025
Cancer Prevention and Control Program, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Mesothelioma is a lethal cancer of the serosal lining of the body cavities. Risk factors include environmental and genetic factors. Asbestos exposure is considered the principal environmental risk factor, but other carcinogenic mineral fibers, such as erionite, also have a causal role.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAlthough sex determination is a fundamental process in vertebrate development, it is very plastic. Diverse genes became major sex determinants in teleost fishes. Deciphering how individual sex-determining genes orchestrate sex determination can reveal new actors in sexual development.
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