Potentially reduced fusogenicity of syncytin‐2 in New World monkeys. Issue 3 (31st January 2023)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Shoji, Hiyori; Kitao, Koichi; Miyazawa, Takayuki; Nakagawa, So
• Is Part Of: FEBS open bio. Volume 13:Issue 3(2023)
• Page Start: 459
• Page End: 467
• Publication Date: 2023-01-31
• Subjects: endogenous retrovirus -- envelope protein -- New World monkey -- placenta -- syncytin; Molecular biology -- Periodicals; Cytology -- Periodicals; Life sciences -- Periodicals; Biological Science Disciplines -- Periodicals; Molecular Biology -- Periodicals; Cell Biology -- Periodicals; Cytology; Life sciences; Molecular biology; Periodicals; 572.805
• DOI: 10.1002/2211-5463.13555
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2211-5463

Abstract

Abstract : Syncytin‐2 is a membrane fusion protein involved in placenta development that is derived from the endogenous retrovirus envelope gene acquired in the common ancestral lineage of New World and Old World monkeys (OWMs). It is known that syncytin‐2 is conserved between apes and OWMs, suggesting its functional importance; however, syncytin‐2 of common marmosets ( Callithrix jacchus ) exhibits lower fusogenic activity than those of humans and OWMs in human cell lines. To obtain insight into the functional diversity of syncytin‐2 genes in primates, we examined the syncytin‐2 gene in New World monkeys (NWMs). We experimentally evaluated the cell fusion ability of syncytin‐2 in humans, C. jacchus, and tufted capuchins ( Sapajus apella ). We found that the cell fusion ability of S. apella was lower than that of human syncytin‐2. Chimeric syncytin‐2 constructs revealed that the amino acid differences in the surface unit of S. apella syncytin‐2 were responsible for the weak cell fusion activity. In addition, genomic sequence analyses of syncytin‐2 revealed that the open reading frames (ORFs) of syncytin‐2 were highly conserved in seven apes and 22 OWMs; however, the syncytin‐2 ORFs of three of 12 NWM species were truncated. Our results suggest that syncytin‐2 in several NWMs may be of less importance than in OWMs and apes, and other syncytin‐like genes may be required for placental development in various NWM species. Abstract : Syncytin‐2 induces cell fusion and plays an important role in placentation. Syncytin‐2 was thought to be conserved in simians; however, we found that Syncytin‐2 in Sapajus apella shows a lower cell fusion activity than that in humans. Furthermore, genomic sequence analyses revealed that the ORFs of syncytin‐2 are truncated in three species of New World monkeys.