'Gene duplication and diversification allow hosts to mutate otherwise essential genes, whereas changes in transcriptional regulation can selectively activate genes should their constitutive expression be detrimental. To counter mutational tolerance, it has been suggested that viruses target essential genes as host cofactors, because the genes are less prone to variability'

#Virology #HostPathogen #RNASplicing

journals.plos.org/plosbiology/…

Alternative splicing liberates a cryptic cytoplasmic isoform of mitochondrial MECR that antagonizes influenza virus

By studying how influenza virus engages the intercellular environment, this study reveals that host cells use alternative splicing to embed antiviral proteins in essential metabolic enzymes, potentially protecting host defenses from viral countermeas…

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