Structural highlights
Function
[ARC2_DROME] Self-assembles into virion-like capsids that encapsulate RNAs and mediate intercellular RNA transfer. Arc2 protein is released from cells in extracellular vesicles that mediate the transfer of mRNA into neighboring cells.[UniProtKB:Q7K1U0]
Publication Abstract from PubMed
Arc, a neuronal gene that is critical for synaptic plasticity, originated through the domestication of retrotransposon Gag genes and mediates intercellular messenger RNA transfer. We report high-resolution structures of retrovirus-like capsids formed by Drosophila dArc1 and dArc2 that have surface spikes and putative internal RNA-binding domains. These data demonstrate that virus-like capsid-forming properties of Arc are evolutionarily conserved and provide a structural basis for understanding their function in intercellular communication.
Structures of virus-like capsids formed by the Drosophila neuronal Arc proteins.,Erlendsson S, Morado DR, Cullen HB, Feschotte C, Shepherd JD, Briggs JAG Nat Neurosci. 2020 Feb;23(2):172-175. doi: 10.1038/s41593-019-0569-y. Epub 2020, Jan 6. PMID:31907439[1]
From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.
References
- ↑ Erlendsson S, Morado DR, Cullen HB, Feschotte C, Shepherd JD, Briggs JAG. Structures of virus-like capsids formed by the Drosophila neuronal Arc proteins. Nat Neurosci. 2020 Feb;23(2):172-175. doi: 10.1038/s41593-019-0569-y. Epub 2020, Jan 6. PMID:31907439 doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41593-019-0569-y