The molecular pathways involved in antiviral defenses and counter-defenses in host-pathogen systems remain unclear. Researchers from Japan have used Neurospora crassa as a model organism to explore how RNA editing influences fungal antiviral responses. They identified two neighboring genes—an RNA-editing enzyme (old) and a transcription factor (zao)—that regulate virus-induced gene expression. Their findings show how the old-zao module controls both asymptomatic and symptomatic infections, providing new insight into conserved antiviral mechanisms in fungi.

Salk Institute scientists have captured never-before-seen footage of the motor protein dynein being "unlocked" by its small partner protein Lis1, setting he foundation for future therapeutics that restore dynein and Lis1 function. The dysfunction of motor proteins and their associated proteins can lead to severe neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative disorders, like Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s, and the dysfunction of Lis1 can lead to the rare fatal birth defect lissencephaly for which there is no cure.