SARS-CoV-2 Disrupts Splicing, Translation, and Protein Trafficking to Suppress Host Defenses.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is a recently identified coronavirus that causes the respiratory disease known as coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Despite the urgent need, we still do not fully understand the molecular basis of SARS-CoV-2 pathogenesis. Here, we comprehensively define the interactions between SARS-CoV-2 proteins and human RNAs.

A lncRNA-like Role for LINE1s in Development.

Transposable elements (TEs) have profoundly affected the evolution of transcriptional and chromatin profiles in mammalian genomes. In a recent paper, Percharde et al. (2018) identify a lncRNA-like function for LINE1 transposable elements in regulating gene expression to facilitate embryonic stem cell self-renewal and preimplantation development.

A novel role for SALL4 during scar-free wound healing in axolotl.

The human response to serious cutaneous damage is limited to relatively primitive wound healing, whereby collagenous scar tissue fills the wound bed. Scars assure structural integrity at the expense of functional regeneration. In contrast, axolotls have the remarkable capacity to functionally regenerate full thickness wounds.