The reconstitution of a functional envelope protein from an extinct hominid retrovirus reveals its receptor and an ancient host defense that may have led to the extinction of the virus.

A new approach combines guide RNA multiplexing with CRISPR activation and interference to facilitate functional studies of transposable elements present in hundreds of copies throughout the human genome.

A long noncoding RNA uses viral mimicry to achieve developmental gene silencing across a chromosome.

Endogenous virus sequences in the genomes of modern mammals reveal the global spread of an ancient virus lineage, including frequent interspecies transmission, adaptation, and emergence spanning several million years of mammalian evolution

To protect the germ line genome, chickens acquire new small RNA-based immune defense in response to recently endogenized retroviruses by turning a truncated provirus into a weapon.

Soon after fertilisation, a critical portion of the embryonic genome is switched on through the actions of maternally inherited Stella, in part through controlling the activation of transposable elements.

Higher-order assembly enables and links pathogen recognition and downstream steps in the TRIM5-mediated anti-HIV response.

Mutations in the TRIM5α retrovirus-binding interface frequently improve but rarely disrupt retroviral restriction.

To protect mammals against retroviral infections, TRIM5 restriction factors recognize viral capsids by forming complementary hexagonal nets that can adapt to the patterns of capsid protein subunits on the viral capsid surface.

Hundreds of retrovirus-like sequences have features that suggest they might be gene enhancers, but only a small fraction displays gene-regulating activity in experiments on mouse stem cells.