A Viral (Arc)hive for Metazoan Memory.

Parrish, Nicholas F; Tomonaga, Keizo · Cell · 2018

basic_science · Level V

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Abstract

Arc, a master regulator of synaptic plasticity, contains sequence elements that are evolutionarily related to retrotransposon Gag genes. Two related papers in this issue of Cell show that Arc retains retroviral-like capsid-forming ability and can transmit mRNA between cells in the nervous system, a process that may be important for synaptic function.

Medical subject headings