‹ BackHN Continuity

Thread

Virus Stole a Human Gene and Won't Let Go of It

101 points · 41 comments · gumby

  1. pazimzadeh · · focus · HN ↗
    Seems par for the course since our adaptive immune system is based on an old viral/transposon recombinase.

    Transposon Molecular Domestication and the Evolution of the RAG Recombinase

    <a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov&#x2F;articles&#x2F;PMC6494689&#x2F;" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov&#x2F;articles&#x2F;PMC6494689&#x2F;

    Here is the actual study:

    Escape of the BC200 gene to a human poxvirus reveals its persistent transposition in primates

    <a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.science.org&#x2F;doi&#x2F;10.1126&#x2F;science.aeh3441" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.science.org&#x2F;doi&#x2F;10.1126&#x2F;science.aeh3441

    1. shevy-java · · focus · HN ↗
      Is VDJ recombination based on viruses or transposons?

      It&#x27;s the first time I hear this. Can&#x27;t yet say much about it until I can verify that.

      1. pazimzadeh · · focus · HN ↗
        Yes, the RAG transposon inserted itself into a variable domain exon about 500 million years ago. Here’s a more recent paper on this:

        Origin of immunoglobulins and T cell receptors: A candidate gene for invasion by the RAG transposon

        <a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov&#x2F;40614193&#x2F;" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov&#x2F;40614193&#x2F;

        &gt; It&#x27;s the first time I hear this. Can&#x27;t yet say much about it until I can verify that.

        How are you going to verify it?

Open on Hacker News to reply ↗

Unofficial Hacker News client; not affiliated with Y Combinator.