Gag-like proteins: Novel mediators of prenatal alcohol exposure in neural development.

ABSTRACT:

Background

We previously showed that ethanol did not kill fetal neural stem cells (NSCs), but that their numbers nevertheless are decreased due to aberrant maturation and loss of self-renewal. To identify mechanisms that mediate this loss of NSCs, we focused on a family of Gag-like proteins (GLPs), derived from retroviral gene remnants within mammalian genomes. GLPs are important for fetal development, though their role in brain development is virtually unexplored. Moreover, GLPs may be transferred between cells in extracellular vesicles (EVs) and thereby transfer environmental adaptations between cells. We hypothesized that GLPs may mediate some effects of ethanol in NSCs.

Methods

Sex-segregated male and female fetal murine cortical NSCs, cultured ex vivo as nonadherent neu

SUBMITTER: Pinson MR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9018584 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature