Dynamic interactions drive early spliceosome assembly.

Splicing is a critical processing step during pre-mRNA maturation in eukaryotes. The correct selection of splice sites during the early steps of spliceosome assembly is highly important and crucial for the regulation of alternative splicing. Splice site recognition and alternative splicing depend on cis-regulatory sequence elements in the RNA and trans-acting splicing factors that recognize these elements and crosstalk with the canonical splicing machinery.

Myo-Inositol as a carbon substrate in Francisella and insights into the metabolism of Francisella sp. strain W12-1067.

Recently, a new environmental Francisella strain, Francisella sp. strain W12-1067, has been identified in Germany. This strain is negative for the Francisella pathogenicity island (FPI) but exhibits a putative alternative type VI secretion system.

Screen for fitness and virulence factors of Francisella sp. strain W12-1067 using amoebae.

Francisella tularensis is the causative agent of the human disease referred to as tularemia. Other Francisella species are known but less is understood about their virulence factors. The role of environmental amoebae in the life-cycle of Francisella is still under discussion.