Research Highlights in 2024

A calcium-dependent pathway induces stress granule formation and promotes cell survival following lysosomal damage.

Sites of N⁶-methyladenosine (m⁶A) in the coding region of mRNAs can induce a distinct, translation-dependent decay pathway involving mRNA translocation to P-bodies.

Obesity-induced transcriptional and epigenetic alterations persist following weight loss, which negatively affects adipose tissue function and increases the propensity to regain weight.

Zhao et al. describe how nuclear deformation during confined cell migration affects chromatin organization and biomolecular condensates. Chromatin heterogeneity in the trailing nuclear half creates a permissive environment for condensate formation, with potential roles in nuclear mechanics and chromatin interactions.

Tunnelling nanotubes, which are actin-based protrusions different from filopodia and cytokinetic bridges, connect cells in the zebrafish embryo, enabling the transport of proteins and organelles.

De Caestecker and Macara find that the sorting of membrane proteins in the Golgi relies on a size filter that enables correct localization of proteins with a short cytosolic domain to the apical membrane.

mRNAs with alternative in-frame translation initiation sites can yield proteoforms with distinct localization and functions.

This study finds that microtubules act as a mechanostat during cell migration, becoming mechanically reinforced in response to compression to protect the nucleus and coordinate contractility.

Stresses induce de-crowding and fluidization of the cytoplasm, which promotes the formation of biomolecular condensates.

MYB-related transcription factors are found to function in chloroplast biogenesis alongside GLK in the distantly related species Marchantia polymorpha and Arabidopsis thaliana.

Many proteins in the mouse ovary are extremely stable; they enhance proteostasis and limit protein aggregation, thereby supporting the maintenance of the long-lived oocytes.

In a recent study, Bong et al. identify a polarized distribution of contact sites between the endoplasmic reticulum and plasma membrane in migrating cells, whereby higher density of contacts in the back of the cells prevents the formation of additional migration fronts.

This study uncovered a link between PI5P, PI5P4Ks and the Hippo pathway, whereby PI5P reinforces the inhibition of YAP, the effector of the Hippo pathway.

Kawaguchi et al. identify a chromatin code based on repressive histone 3 lysine 27 trimethylation (H3K27me3) that serves as a segment-specific positional marker in connective tissue cells of axolotls, enabling correct patterning during limb regeneration.

Cleavage of promoter-upstream antisense RNAs by the Integrator complex supports the preferential transcription of pre-mRNAs.

Reversible S-palmitoylation regulates gasdermin D cleavage, membrane translocation and pore formation to control pyroptosis following bacterial infection.

This study presents a new iPS cell-based model to study the mechanisms of tau propagation in 4R tauopathies.

The assembly of large protein–pigment photosystem supercomplexes relies on several assembly factors. Zhang et al. describe a novel assembly factor that evolved during the terrestrialization of land plants.

In mouse models of acute kidney injury, the outcome — scarless tissue repair versus fibrosis — depends on the activity of the transcription factor SOX9.

Harmful activity of the DNA sensor cGAS in the nucleus is suppressed by a dedicated ubiquitylation complex.