BC200 gene retains ancient ability to move through human genomes

Researchers have identified that the human brain gene BC200 retains the ancient ability to move and copy itself within genomes. Derived from an ancestral transposon, or “jumping gene,” BC200 is found exclusively in humans and related primates. While most genetic sequences derived from transposons lost their mobility over millions of years, BC200 has maintained its ability to change position while simultaneously serving a cellular function.

First identified in the late 1980s as a non-coding RNA in human neurons, BC200 is believed to play a role in regulating the translation of neuronal messenger RNAs into proteins. The gene has also been linked to various health conditions; it is overexpressed in the brains of Alzheimer’s patients and shows abnormal expression in certain tumors.

Studies suggest a connection between BC200 and the molluscum contagiosum virus (MCV). Because MCV infects skin cells where BC200 is present, scientists are investigating whether the virus utilizes the gene to manipulate human host cells. Additionally, researchers are exploring whether the gene’s mobility contributes to mutations in cancer cells or creates inheritable insertions through germ cells.