Introns Protect Eukaryotic Genomes from Transcription-Associated Genetic Instability

Transcription is a source of genetic instability that can notably result from the formation of genotoxic DNA:RNA hybrids, R-loops, between the nascent RNA and its template. By combining the genetic manipulation of intron content with genome-wide analyses in both yeasts and human cells, we revealed a function for introns in counteracting DNA:RNA hybrid (R-loop) formation and its deleterious impact on genetic stability (Bonnet et al, Mol Cell, 2017).