Search

Preserving anal function in advanced-stage colorectal cancer (CRC) treatment remains challenging. Here this group reports a hydrospongel consists of cellulose nanofibers crosslinked with Fe₃O₄@PDA nanoparticles which enables delivery of 5-FU to the tumor site thereby achieving CRC chemotherapy.

Yersinia pseudotuberculosis senses fungal tyrosol signalling through EnvZ–OmpR which triggers T6SS activation and antifungal effector release to reduce fungal competitors in the mouse gut.

A new study shows EMP1 protects hematopoietic stem cells by suppressing sphingolipid metabolism and ER stress. EMP1 interacts with CERS2 to limit dihydroceramide production, which causes protein aggregation when elevated.

The structure of the mitochondrial inner membrane, or cristae, is important for functional oxidative phosphorylation and energy production. Here, the authors show that loss of myosin 19 impairs cristae structure as well as energy production, connecting motor activity to membrane potential.

UHRF1 is a key epigenetic regulator implicated in prostate cancer, yet no targeted therapies have reached clinical trials. Here, the authors develop H93, a hybrid small molecule that directly binds the UHRF1 SRA domain and unexpectedly promotes its dimerization, and disrupts its interaction with DNMT1, reactivates silenced tumor suppressors, and confers potent antitumor efficacy in prostate cancer.

RNA splicing is crucial for gene expression diversity and can be altered by mutations. Here, the authors present SpTransformer, a deep learning tool that predicts tissue-specific RNA splicing with high accuracy, revealing splicing’s role in pathogenic mutations and aiding clinical interpretations.

Transcription factors (TFs) represent an emerging class of therapeutic targets in oncology. Here, the authors develop Epiregulon, a computational method that constructs gene regulatory networks from ChIP-seq, ATAC-seq and RNA-seq data for accurate prediction of TF activity at the single-cell level, thereby facilitating the discovery of therapeutics targeting TFs.

Maize kernels have long intrigued researchers due to their complex structure. Through microscopic sectioning and spatial transcriptomics, the authors observed the spatial distribution of RNA through electronic RNA in situ hybridization maps and discovered how storage accumulation occurs.

Authors profile the antimicrobial activity of an Escherichia coli bacteriophage (in vivo and in vitro), isolated from chicken faeces.

Kra-Dai language family exhibits great linguistic diversity and tremendous socio-cultural importance in East Asia. In this study, the authors found that Kra-Dai languages initially diverged ~4,000 years ago in Southern China coinciding with prehistoric demic and agricultural diffusions likely driven by climate change.

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.

Malignant pleural effusion is a challenge for cancer therapy. Here, the authors report on a piezoelectric nano-system that inhibits tumor growth in the thoracic cavity by piezo-generated reactive oxygen species using the intrapleural pressure, triggering immunogenic cell death, to treat malignant pleural effusion.

Metabolic disorder significantly contributes to diabetic vascular complications, including diabetic retinopathy (DR). This study reveals that O-GlcNAcylation, a nutrient-sensitive protein modification, drives vascular dysfunction in DR by stabilizing Hippo signaling key components YAP/TAZ. Targeting O-GlcNAc-YAP/TAZ shows therapeutic potential for mitigating DR pathology.

The SARS-CoV-2 papain-like protease (PLpro) is of interest as a drug target. Here, the authors identify GRL0617 as a PPI (protein–protein interaction) inhibitor of SARS-CoV-2 PLpro that inhibits its deISGylating activity and present the mechanism of action of the compound through the GRL0617-bound PLpro crystal structure and NMR studies.

This study maps proteomic changes in Alzheimer’s mouse models, identifying shared pathways with humans, amyloid-driven protein turnover, and proteome-transcriptome differences, offering insights into disease mechanisms and potential targets.

Delivering bacteria-based drug for cancer therapy is limited by their penetration into extracellular matrix (ECM). Here the authors report effective depletion of ECM with hyperbaric oxygen therapeutic strategy to enhance bacterial accumulation within tumors and to induce immunogenic cell death.

The pan-genome of 17 wheat cultivars grown in China is explored, providing insights into the breeding history of wheat in East Asia.

Proximity effect may induce unconventional superconductivity in the topologically protected surface states of a topological insulator, however experimental evidence remains rare. Here, Charpentier et al. report proximity effect induced superconductivity in nanoscale Josephson junctions and suggest an unconventional p-wave order parameter.

Here the authors present a wet-interfacial Joule heating approach for synthesizing nanomaterials in a sub-second, programmable, and energy/reactant-saving manner, based on the synergy between Joule-heating-based high temperature and evaporation-caused concentration.

Autologous tumor cell vaccines can elicit anti-tumor immune responses. Here, the authors report the design of dendritic polymer-based nanoparticles loaded with doxorubicin and the tyrosine kinase inhibitor apatinib that can induce immunogenic cell death and the in situ production of immuno-stimulatory micrometer-sized vesicles, promoting anti-tumor immune responses in preclinical models.

Splicing dysfunction has been observed in Alzheimer’s disease but it remains unclear whether splicing defects have a causal role. Here the authors generate a mouse model with perturbed U1 snRNP activity, recapitulating RNA splicing defects, neuron hyperexcitability, neurodegeneration and synergy with the amyloid cascade when crossed with 5xFAD mice.

Tailoring the oxygen redox reactivity in Li-rich cathode is crucial for developing high-energy batteries. Here, the authors report a strategy to obtain a flexible crystal structure and enhance the oxygen redox reversibility.

CRISPR screening and protein–protein interaction networks identify components and mechanisms of nutrient-dependent mTORC1 signalling in regulatory T cells and reveal how mTORC1 integrates immunological cues and nutrient signals for adaptive immunity.

Hunt et al. identify the protein sets that are modulated by RNAi for each E2 ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme in human cells. By analyzing the UBA1/E2-sensitive proteome, they report an adaptive stress response that preserves peroxisomal protein import in cells with decreased ubiquitination capacity.

PTEN functions as a tumor suppressor. Guo and colleagues now find PTEN also serves a critical role in antiviral innate immunity by inducing the production of type I interferon.

Mobile tet(X3) and tet(X4) genes are identified on conjugative plasmids in Enterobacteriaceae and Acinetobacter isolated from humans, meat for consumption and animals that confer resistance to tetracyclines, including tigecycline, eravacycline and omadacycline.