Reverse transcribed ssDNA derepresses translation of a retron antiviral protein
Karen Huilin Zhang, Matías Rojas-Montero, Darshini Poola, Josepha Magdalene Klas, Arturo Carabias, Dennis J. Zhang, Mario Rodríguez Mestre, Ruiliang Zhao, Ana Dávila-Hidalgo, Guillermo Montoya, Rafael Pinilla‐Redondo, Alejandro González-Delgado, Seth L. Shipman
The paper describes a non-canonical mechanism in Type VI retrons where reverse transcribed ssDNA derepresses translation of an antiviral toxin, providing phage defense without detectable msDNA.
bioRxiv · Oct 22, 2025 · PreprintMicrobiology