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A deletion that removes 1.6 Mb of DNA and several genes from the Y chromosome increases its carriers' chance of infertility, yet is present in ∼2% of men. The Y chromosome can no longer be regarded as a neutral locus in evolutionary studies.
The actin-associated kelch-domain protein Keap1 acts upstream of the transcription factor Nrf2. Upon stress, Keap1 releases Nrf2 to activate the transcription of target genes. A new study now shows that these targets include keratins and cornified envelope proteins, possibly explaining why certain keratin mutations predispose to chemical injury. The Keap1-Nrf2 partnership offers a mechanistic explanation for the response of tissues to mechanical and chemical injury.
Synthetic lethality occurs when two otherwise nonlethal mutations together result in an inviable cell. A new study describes a rapid approach to identify synthetic lethal mutations in yeast.
Retroviruses make up a large proportion of the mammalian genome. A new study shows that an mRNA nuclear export receptor can act as a modifier of endogenous retrovirus insertion mutations by interacting with the mutated pre-mRNA.
