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Current screens to assess tumour drug resistance require a large amount of material, normally not available from patients. Here the authors report CombiSeq, a scalable microfluidic workflow to screen hundreds of drug combinations in picoliter-size droplets using transcriptome changes as a readout.

Annunziato, Quan and Donckele et al. identify G3BP2 (Ras–GAP SH3 domain-binding protein 2) as a molecular glue-induced neosubstrate of the CRL4^CRBN E3 ubiquitin ligase. The CRBN–glue neosurface uses a molecular surface mimicry mechanism to recruit and degrade G3BP2 in a compound-dependent manner.

Here the authors present NCATS-SM0225, a small molecule that inhibits ERAD and selectively kills cancer cells by binding VDACs, disrupting calcium homeostasis, and triggering the PERK-STIM1 pathway to degrade ERAD regulators.

Adjuvants are an important component of modern vaccines. Here, the authors employ a phenotypic screen of ~200k compounds and identify PVP-057, a TLR3 agonist with a simple scalable 3-step synthesis, as an adjuvant that induces durable humoral and cellular immunity to varicella-zoster virus (VZV) gE in mice.

LaccID, an engineered laccase, enables hydrogen-peroxide-free proximity labeling and electron microscopy (EM) in mammalian cells. Notably, LaccID is selectively active at the cell surface, enabling the mapping of the dynamic T cell–tumor surfaceome and its use as a genetically encodable EM tag, expanding the toolkit for cell-based imaging and proteomics.

Here the authors perform a gene knockout screen in myeloid cells, identifying 295 genes regulating interleukin-1β production, of which 57 lie in regions associated with inflammatory disease risk. The study sheds light on genetic control of interleukin-1β in inflammation, beyond previously known factors.

Design of cysteine-targeting analogs of a reversible SETDB1 triple Tudor domain (3TD) ligand, UNC6535, led to UNC10013, a potent covalent ligand with high selectivity. UNC10013 demonstrated allosteric inhibition of SETDB1-mediated Akt methylation in cells, a promising approach to SETDB1 therapeutics.

Cyclic GMP-AMP synthase (cGAS) is involved in the modulation of inflammatory responses. Here, the authors present small-molecule inhibitors of human cGAS, characterize their interaction with the protein, and show that the compounds are active in interferon-producing cells including primary human macrophages.

Cells must sense heat quickly to protect their proteins and membranes. Here, the authors show that membrane stretch detected by the membrane sensor Mid2 promotes rapid phosphorylation of the Hsp70 chaperone to coordinate gene activity, protein synthesis and resolution of stress-induced protein droplets during heat shock.

Malignant rhabdoid tumours (MRT) have been suggested to originate in the ectoderm-derived neural crest. Here, the authors analyse MRTs using phylogenetics, scRNA-seq, and patient-derived organoids; they find evidence for an MRT origin in the neural crest lineage and suggest differentiation treatment with HDAC/mTOR inhibitors.

Despite improving therapeutic options, the prognosis for patients with metastatic castration-resistance prostate cancer (mCRPC) remains poor. Here, the authors identify MCL1 copy number alterations as a prognostic and predictive biomarker, demonstrating its therapeutic potential as a drug target, either alone or in combination, in patients with mCRPC.

Treatment with neoadjuvant BRAF/MEK-targeted therapy results in higher rates of major pathological response in female compared with male patients with melanoma, and pharmacological inhibition of androgen receptor signalling improved the responses of male and female mice to BRAF/MEK-targeted therapy.

Genome-wide CRISPRi screens for modulators of androgen receptor (AR) protein levels using live-cell quantitative endogenous AR fluorescence reporters identify PTGES3 as a new regulator of AR stability and function in prostate cancer.

Upon DNA binding cyclic GMP-AMP synthase (cGAS) produces a cyclic dinucleotide, which leads to the upregulation of inflammatory genes. Here the authors develop small molecule cGAS inhibitors, functionally characterize them and present the inhibitor and DNA bound cGAS crystal structures, which will facilitate drug development.

A metalloenzyme capable of oxidatively cleaving cellulose, found in a microbial community specialized in lignocellulose degradation, could enable sustainable biofuel production.

Quinone-based electrochemical systems can capture carbon dioxide but are limited by oxygen reactivity. Here, authors present a naphthoquinone and electrolyte design that improves oxygen tolerance while maintaining efficient carbon dioxide capture and concentration in aqueous flow cells.

Insects colonized with Metarhizium fungi emit longifolene to lure new hosts for infection to disperse spores. A fungal strain was engineered to emit longifolene to attract and eliminate mosquitoes.

Epigenetic changes are implicated in Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) tumorigenesis. Here, the authors show that the ubiquitin ligase RNF5 and its substrate RBBP4 contribute to AML development by regulating epigenetic-controlled transcription which determines AML sensitivity to HDAC inhibitors.

Differential sensing aims to mimic senses such as taste and smell through the use of synthetic receptors. Here, the authors show that arrays of de novo designed peptide assemblies can be used as sensor components to distinguish various analytes and complex mixtures.

A hybrid epoxy–acrylate resin is reported for the digital light processing 3D printing of bioinspired metamaterial structures with precisely patterned hard and soft domains.

Detailed mapping of the distribution of water and semiheavy water in the coma of Halley-type comet 12P implies a D/H ratio that is consistent with that of Earth’s water, indicating a common heritage.

CDK4/6 inhibition is a promising therapeutic approach to treat cancer, but it is challenged by resistance development. Here, the authors show that the RNA binding protein LRPPRC forms a positive feedback loop with CDK6 and inhibiting LRPPRC with the FDA-approved gossypol acetate overcomes CDK4/6 inhibition resistance.

Retinoic acid is known to be effective against bone marrow metastatic neuroblastoma cells, but not primary tumors. Here, authors discover that bone morphogenetic protein signaling is responsible for determining neuroblastoma cell fate and sensitivity to retinoic acid.

Whatever you are trying to make, the choice of materials is often bewildering. Novel combinatorial approaches allow you to reduce the time and costs necessary to optimize results, while stimulating the quest for deeper fundamental knowledge.

Protein/protein interaction (PPI) interfaces have emerged as drug targets to develop medications with less side effects. Here, Dvorak et al. show that small molecule targeting of PPIs in the brain is an approach for psychiatric drug discovery.

An NNMT inhibitor reduces tumour burden and metastasis in multiple mouse cancer models and restores immune checkpoint blockade efficacy by decreasing cancer-associated-fibroblast-mediated recruitment of myeloid-derived suppressor cells and reinvigorating CD8⁺ T cell activation.

Effective treatments for atopic dermatitis (AD) are highly sought after. Here the authors develop ucenprubart (LY3454738) for treating AD and find, in a randomized, multiple arms, multicenter, placebo controlled, and dose-escalating phase 1 trial (NCT03750643) trial, ucenprubart to be safe and showing preliminary efficacy when compared with placebo at 12 weeks post treatment.

TEAD transcription factors are critical effectors and druggable sites of the Hippo pathway in cancer, however, the development of small molecule inhibitors and degraders remains underexplored. Here, the authors identify and characterize bifunctional IAP-based degraders targeting TEAD1 via a lipid pocket and recruit different members of the inhibitor of apoptosis proteins (IAPs) family, offering a comprehensive toolkit for structural, biophysical and cellular profiling.

Pharmacologic inhibition of dihydroorotate dehydrogenase (DHODH) shows limited efficacy in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) models. Here the authors find that targeting the anti-apoptotic protein BCL-XL synergizes with DHODH inhibition in promoting apoptosis in PDAC cells, patient-derived organoids, and PDAC mouse models.

Regulatory miRNAs have significant therapeutic potential. Here the authors developed a screen to identify small molecule drugs that modulate miRNome profiles in human neurons and validated cardiac glycosides as inducers of the neuroprotective miR-132.

Patients with different small round cell sarcoma (SRCS) often receive the same treatment regimen but for some SRCS subtypes, response to chemotherapy is poor and targeted treatment options are limited. Here, the authors establish a biobank of paediatric patient-derived SRCS tumoroids and perform drug screening, identifying MCL inhibition as a potential therapeutic strategy in CIC::DUX4 sarcomas.

Combination of drugs within cancer treatment is a popular way to overcome resistance and increase efficacy. Here, the authors analyse over 5000 targeted agent combinations in non-small cell lung cancer to identify potentially effective drug strategies.

A novel antiviral targeting the SARS-CoV-2 PLpro protease shows strong efficacy in a mouse model, preventing lung pathology and reducing brain dysfunction. The study provides proof-of-principle that PLpro inhibition may be a viable strategy for preventing and treating long COVID.

High-content protein arrays were used to identify cysteine dioxygenase (CDO1) as a small-molecule glue target for the von Hippel–Lindau (VHL) E3 ubiquitin ligase and induces VHL-dependent proteasomal degradation of CDO1 in cells.

In less than a decade, the treatment landscape of metastatic melanoma has changed dramatically. Novel targeted agents and immunotherapies are revolutionizing patient outcomes, but the range of available drugs complicates clinical decision-making. Herein, the authors chart the therapeutic advances and review the current evidence that can be used to guide therapeutic decisions for individual patients with metastatic melanoma, highlighting knowledge gaps.

Human proteases TMPRSS2 and TMPRSS11D can be highjacked to mediate cell entry of respiratory viruses. This study examines the biochemical and structural basis of TMPRSS11D auto-activation and substrate specificity, informing peptidomimetic inhibitor development.

Oncolytic virus holds potential as a cancer therapy, but further optimization is desirable. Here the authors screen existing drug to find talazoparib, a PARP inhibitor, synergizing with reovirus type 3 Dearing (RT3D) to induce cancer cell apoptosis, anti-tumor immunity, as well as control of primary and rechallenge tumor in mouse models.

This Resource presents the genetic subset of the 136,000 chemical and genetic perturbations tested by the Joint Undertaking for Morphological Profiling (JUMP) Cell Painting Consortium and associated analysis of phenotypic profiles.

A large resource of shared tumor neoepitopes aims to accelerate cancer immunotherapy.

High-throughput screening identifies compounds that target insulin-degrading enzyme (IDE) and X-ray co-crystallography reveals how these compounds block insulin degradation by IDE but support its proteolysis of other substrates, including glucagon.

The choroid plexus (ChP) provides molecular cues for brain development. However, the underlying mechanisms are unclear. This study identifies an apocrine secretion mechanism in the ChP that modulates the CSF protein composition and instructs cortical development.

Lu and colleagues show that signaling through the lactate receptor HCAR1 in colorectal tumor cells promotes the recruitment of immunosuppressive CCR2⁺ PMN-MDSCs and that inhibition of HCAR1 by reserpine augments the CD8⁺ T cell-mediated antitumor immune response.

Pattern recognition receptors (PRR) critically modulate innate immunity. Here the authors show in cancer cells that interferon responses and anti-tumor immunity activated by dsRNA-induced PRR signaling is enhanced by palbociclib-induced ER stress, with epigenetic changes and altered antigen presentation potentially contributing to this effect.

Amide formation is a ubiquitous reaction in organic chemistry, but suffers from the problem of generating large amounts of waste. Here, the authors report a catalytic amide synthesis by the ruthenium catalysed addition of carboxylic acids to acetylenes, followed by reaction with primary or secondary amines.

Cryo-EM reveals how transthyretin moves, offering insights into ligand binding and amyloidogenesis. The work highlights the utility of cryo-EM in studying small proteins and uncovering targets for structure-based drug design in transthyretin amyloidosis.

CX-5461 recently progressed through phase I clinical trial as a first-inhuman inhibitor of RNA-POL I. Here, the authors demonstrate that CX-5461 synergizes with topoisomerase I inhibitors to inhibit neuroblastoma cells and that its primary target in this disease is topoisomerase II beta and not RNA-POL I.

Structural insights demonstrating small-molecule-mediated dimerization of BRD4 bromodomains led to the development of biBET, a compound that potently inhibits BRD4–acetyl-lysine interactions by bivalent binding to tandem bromodomains.

Pathogenic microbes can often attach to surfaces and form biofilms that display increased antibiotic resistance. Here, the authors characterize the biosynthesis of a new class of natural products, the cahuitamycins, that inhibit formation of biofilms by the pathogenic bacterium Acinetobacter baumannii.