Inactivation of the CMAH gene and deficiency of Neu5Gc play a role in human brain evolution
Abstract During human evolution, some genes were lost or silenced from the genome of hominins. These missing genes might be the key to the evolution of humans’ unique cognitive skills. An inactivation mutation in CMP-N-acetylneuraminic acid hydroxylase (CMAH) was the result of natural selection. The...
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BMC
2025-02-01
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| Series: | Inflammation and Regeneration |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s41232-025-00368-3 |
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| author | Yuxin Liu Jinhong Li Qicai Liu |
| author_facet | Yuxin Liu Jinhong Li Qicai Liu |
| author_sort | Yuxin Liu |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract During human evolution, some genes were lost or silenced from the genome of hominins. These missing genes might be the key to the evolution of humans’ unique cognitive skills. An inactivation mutation in CMP-N-acetylneuraminic acid hydroxylase (CMAH) was the result of natural selection. The inactivation of CMAH protected our ancestors from some pathogens and reduced the level of N-glycolylneuraminic acid (Neu5Gc) in brain tissue. Interestingly, the low level of Neu5Gc promoted the development of brain tissue, which may have played a role in human evolution. As a xenoantigen, Neu5Gc may have been involved in brain evolution by affecting neural conduction, neuronal development, and aging. Graphical Abstract During human evolution, humans lost the ability to synthesize Neu5Gc after the inactivation mutation of the gene CMAH. Therefore, Neu5Gc in the human body is a xenoantigen. The inactivation of CMAH and the loss of endogenous Neu5Gc may have played a role in human brain evolution by affecting neural conduction, neuronal development, and aging. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-f26787bc2a094d4b8e35af9a8b8a4edf |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1880-8190 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-02-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Inflammation and Regeneration |
| spelling | doaj-art-f26787bc2a094d4b8e35af9a8b8a4edf2025-02-09T12:24:54ZengBMCInflammation and Regeneration1880-81902025-02-0145111110.1186/s41232-025-00368-3Inactivation of the CMAH gene and deficiency of Neu5Gc play a role in human brain evolutionYuxin Liu0Jinhong Li1Qicai Liu2Center of Reproductive Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Fujian Medical UniversityDepartment of Laboratory Medicine, Medical Technology and Engineering College, Fujian Medical UniversityCenter of Reproductive Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Fujian Medical UniversityAbstract During human evolution, some genes were lost or silenced from the genome of hominins. These missing genes might be the key to the evolution of humans’ unique cognitive skills. An inactivation mutation in CMP-N-acetylneuraminic acid hydroxylase (CMAH) was the result of natural selection. The inactivation of CMAH protected our ancestors from some pathogens and reduced the level of N-glycolylneuraminic acid (Neu5Gc) in brain tissue. Interestingly, the low level of Neu5Gc promoted the development of brain tissue, which may have played a role in human evolution. As a xenoantigen, Neu5Gc may have been involved in brain evolution by affecting neural conduction, neuronal development, and aging. Graphical Abstract During human evolution, humans lost the ability to synthesize Neu5Gc after the inactivation mutation of the gene CMAH. Therefore, Neu5Gc in the human body is a xenoantigen. The inactivation of CMAH and the loss of endogenous Neu5Gc may have played a role in human brain evolution by affecting neural conduction, neuronal development, and aging.https://doi.org/10.1186/s41232-025-00368-3Neu5GcBrain evolutionImmunosenescence |
| spellingShingle | Yuxin Liu Jinhong Li Qicai Liu Inactivation of the CMAH gene and deficiency of Neu5Gc play a role in human brain evolution Inflammation and Regeneration Neu5Gc Brain evolution Immunosenescence |
| title | Inactivation of the CMAH gene and deficiency of Neu5Gc play a role in human brain evolution |
| title_full | Inactivation of the CMAH gene and deficiency of Neu5Gc play a role in human brain evolution |
| title_fullStr | Inactivation of the CMAH gene and deficiency of Neu5Gc play a role in human brain evolution |
| title_full_unstemmed | Inactivation of the CMAH gene and deficiency of Neu5Gc play a role in human brain evolution |
| title_short | Inactivation of the CMAH gene and deficiency of Neu5Gc play a role in human brain evolution |
| title_sort | inactivation of the cmah gene and deficiency of neu5gc play a role in human brain evolution |
| topic | Neu5Gc Brain evolution Immunosenescence |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s41232-025-00368-3 |
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