Now I understand how consciousness is possible. (irony) ---- Frank Wimberly https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Frank_Wimberly2 Phone (505) 670-9918
On Jan 13, 2018 5:59 PM, "Roger Critchlow" <r...@elf.org> wrote: > In case you thought you understood the general molecular biology of life, > here's another curve ball for you: > > http://www.cell.com/cell/fulltext/S0092-8674(17)31504-0 > > Summary > > The neuronal gene *Arc* is essential for long-lasting information storage > in the mammalian brain, mediates various forms of synaptic plasticity, and > has been implicated in neurodevelopmental disorders. However, little is > known about Arc’s molecular function and evolutionary origins. Here, we > show that Arc self-assembles into virus-like capsids that encapsulate RNA. > Endogenous Arc protein is released from neurons in extracellular vesicles > that mediate the transfer of *Arc* mRNA into new target cells, where it > can undergo activity-dependent translation. Purified Arc capsids are > endocytosed and are able to transfer *Arc* mRNA into the cytoplasm of > neurons. These results show that Arc exhibits similar molecular properties > to retroviral Gag proteins. Evolutionary analysis indicates that Arc is > derived from a vertebrate lineage of Ty3/*gypsy* retrotransposons, which > are also ancestors to retroviruses. These findings suggest that Gag > retroelements have been repurposed during evolution to mediate > intercellular communication in the nervous system. > -- rec -- > > ============================================================ > FRIAM Applied Complexity Group listserv > Meets Fridays 9a-11:30 at cafe at St. John's College > to unsubscribe http://redfish.com/mailman/listinfo/friam_redfish.com > FRIAM-COMIC http://friam-comic.blogspot.com/ by Dr. Strangelove >
============================================================ FRIAM Applied Complexity Group listserv Meets Fridays 9a-11:30 at cafe at St. John's College to unsubscribe http://redfish.com/mailman/listinfo/friam_redfish.com FRIAM-COMIC http://friam-comic.blogspot.com/ by Dr. Strangelove
