Enhancer adoption by an LTR retrotransposon generates viral-like particles, causing developmental limb phenotypes - Nature Genetics

Activation of an LTR retrotransposon inserted upstream of the Fgf8 gene produces viral-like particles in the mouse developing limb, triggering apoptosis and causing limb malformation. This phenotype can be rescued by mutations in the retrotransposon coding sequence.

Nature

Gag proteins encoded by endogenous retroviruses are required for zebrafish development.

#EndogenousRetroviruses #Transposons #Gag #Zebrafish

https://www.pnas.org/doi/abs/10.1073/pnas.2411446122