Placenta-Specific Protein 1 Is Conserved throughout the Placentalia under Purifying Selection

Placental mammals (Placentalia) are a very successful group that, today, comprise 94% of all mammalian species. Recent phylogenetic analyses, coupled with new, quite complete fossils, suggest that the crown orders were all established rapidly from a common ancestor just after the Cretaceous/Tertiary...

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Main Author: Eric J. Devor
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2014-01-01
Series:The Scientific World Journal
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2014/537356
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author Eric J. Devor
author_facet Eric J. Devor
author_sort Eric J. Devor
collection DOAJ
description Placental mammals (Placentalia) are a very successful group that, today, comprise 94% of all mammalian species. Recent phylogenetic analyses, coupled with new, quite complete fossils, suggest that the crown orders were all established rapidly from a common ancestor just after the Cretaceous/Tertiary (K/T) boundary 65 million years ago. Extensive molecular and morphologic evidence has led to a description of the common ancestor of all Placentalia in which a two-horned uterus and a hemochorial placenta are present. Thus, the process of placentation in which the placenta invades and anchors to the uterine epithelium was already established. One factor that has been suggested as a crucial component of this process is placenta-specific protein 1 (PLAC1). A phylogenetic analysis of the PLAC1 protein in 25 placental mammal species, representing nine of the sixteen crown orders of the Placentalia, suggests that this protein was present in the placental common ancestor in the form we see it today, that it evolved in the Placentalia and has been subject to the effects of purifying selection since its appearance.
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spelling doaj-art-a58cf23febb64c26abff252bb7f6081d2025-02-03T05:58:33ZengWileyThe Scientific World Journal2356-61401537-744X2014-01-01201410.1155/2014/537356537356Placenta-Specific Protein 1 Is Conserved throughout the Placentalia under Purifying SelectionEric J. Devor0Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, 3234 MERF, 375 Newton Road, Iowa City, IA 52242, USAPlacental mammals (Placentalia) are a very successful group that, today, comprise 94% of all mammalian species. Recent phylogenetic analyses, coupled with new, quite complete fossils, suggest that the crown orders were all established rapidly from a common ancestor just after the Cretaceous/Tertiary (K/T) boundary 65 million years ago. Extensive molecular and morphologic evidence has led to a description of the common ancestor of all Placentalia in which a two-horned uterus and a hemochorial placenta are present. Thus, the process of placentation in which the placenta invades and anchors to the uterine epithelium was already established. One factor that has been suggested as a crucial component of this process is placenta-specific protein 1 (PLAC1). A phylogenetic analysis of the PLAC1 protein in 25 placental mammal species, representing nine of the sixteen crown orders of the Placentalia, suggests that this protein was present in the placental common ancestor in the form we see it today, that it evolved in the Placentalia and has been subject to the effects of purifying selection since its appearance.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2014/537356
spellingShingle Eric J. Devor
Placenta-Specific Protein 1 Is Conserved throughout the Placentalia under Purifying Selection
The Scientific World Journal
title Placenta-Specific Protein 1 Is Conserved throughout the Placentalia under Purifying Selection
title_full Placenta-Specific Protein 1 Is Conserved throughout the Placentalia under Purifying Selection
title_fullStr Placenta-Specific Protein 1 Is Conserved throughout the Placentalia under Purifying Selection
title_full_unstemmed Placenta-Specific Protein 1 Is Conserved throughout the Placentalia under Purifying Selection
title_short Placenta-Specific Protein 1 Is Conserved throughout the Placentalia under Purifying Selection
title_sort placenta specific protein 1 is conserved throughout the placentalia under purifying selection
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2014/537356
work_keys_str_mv AT ericjdevor placentaspecificprotein1isconservedthroughouttheplacentaliaunderpurifyingselection