Reverse transcriptases challenge the central dogma of biology, again.

Figiel, Małgorzata; Nowotny, Marcin · Cell · 2026

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Abstract

In this issue of Cell, Wang et al. reveal the mechanism of a bacterial antiphage system that contains two reverse transcriptases. Through an unprecedented process, the enzymes synthesize double-stranded DNA; one uses a noncoding RNA template and the other uses its amino acid residues to template and prime DNA synthesis.

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