Proteasomal activity sets developmental pace

Although the mechanisms of embryonic development are broadly conserved among mammals, the pace at which development proceeds varies between species. Previous research indicates that protein turnover may help determine that pace. For example, slower protein degradation in human neural progenitors has been linked to their slower development relative to mouse cells. However, differences in protein turnover between species remain poorly characterized. It is also unknown whether altering protein stability can influence developmental timing. A comparative study of mouse and human neural progenitors, combining proteome-wide analyses with targeted manipulation of protein degradation, now establishes a causal link between proteolysis and species-specific developmental pace.