Chemical biology articles from across Nature Portfolio

Chemical biology is the study of the chemicals and chemical reactions involved in biological processes, incorporating the disciplines of bioorganic chemistry, biochemistry, cell biology and pharmacology. Chemicals – including natural small molecules, such as lipids, carbohydrates and metals, or non-natural probe or drug molecules – are used to gain insight into biological problems at a mechanistic level.

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Phases align at the membrane

The interface between biomolecular condensates and cellular membranes underlies many biological processes, yet how biomolecules and lipids reciprocally influence one another’s phase behavior remains poorly understood. A study now shows that membrane composition modulates biomolecular condensation on the membrane, pointing to a new regulatory mechanism of condensation in cells.
- Katherine K. Moran
- Wilton T. Snead
News & Views27 Jan 2026 Nature Chemical Biology
P: 1-2
Targeting transcriptional plasticity in cancer

Thymine DNA-glycosylase (TDG) has established roles in DNA repair, methylation and transcription, with some implications for cancer development. A study has now identified a synthetic lethality between TDG and p53 in cancer cells, caused by the accumulation of double-stranded RNA.
- Simon D. Schwarz
News & Views22 Jan 2026 Nature Chemical Biology
P: 1-2
Pick a color to control TRP channels

Ideal efficacy photoswitching is introduced as a concept in controlling protein activity with light. Largely independent of the concentration of a light-responsive compound, it enables TRPC4 and TRPC5 channels to be precisely agonized or antagonized depending on the color of light used.
- Jana Volarić
- Wiktor Szymanski
News & Views16 Jan 2026 Nature Chemical Biology
Volume: 22, P: 163-164

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Latest Research and Reviews

Indirect ubiquitination independent of endogenous ubiquitination machinery for targeted protein degradation

Heterobifunctional small degrader molecules that tether endogenous E3 ubiquitin ligases are promising substrates for targeted protein degradation, however, the precise formation of the E3 ligase–target complex remains challenging and limits their application. Here, the authors introduce indirect ubiquitination of the target proteins via non-covalent interactions that bypass E3 ligases, enabling efficient protein degradation.
- Takafumi Furuhata
- Kazuki Yoshida
- Akimitsu Okamoto
ResearchOpen Access29 Jan 2026 Communications Chemistry
Volume: 9, P: 52
Cycling molecular assemblies for Golgi imaging and disruption

Tan and colleagues present “cycling molecular assemblies” that borrow cellular lipidation machinery to build nanostructures inside the Golgi apparatus. These tools enable rapid organelle imaging and selective destruction of cancer cells.
- Weiyi Tan
- Qiuxin Zhang
- Bing Xu
ResearchOpen Access28 Jan 2026 Nature Communications
P:
Assessing the safety of two organosulfur compounds derived from onion in western honey bee (Apis mellifera)
- Ana Falcón-Piñeiro
- Alberto Baños
- Mariano Higes
ResearchOpen Access28 Jan 2026 Scientific Reports
P:
Defining the heterogeneous molecular landscape of lung cancer cell responses to epigenetic inhibition

Quantitative multi-omics profiling of HDAC inhibitor responses in non-isogenic cancer cell lines reveals shared and divergent molecular remodeling. Responses highlight cell-type-dependent and -independent epigenetic drug mechanisms of action.
- Chuwei Lin
- Catherine M. Sniezek
- Devin K. Schweppe
ResearchOpen Access28 Jan 2026 Communications Biology
P:
Integrated chemical and biological characterization of Hypericum perforatum extract using LC-MS/MS and in vitro functional assays
- Mehmet Ali Güzel
- Turgay Kolaç
- Yılmaz Uğur
ResearchOpen Access27 Jan 2026 Scientific Reports
P:
Phytochemical, in silico, and in vitro studies of wheatgrass (Triticum aestivum L.) juice powder
- Aliye Demet Demirag
- Bilge Bicak
- Mustafa Yildirim
ResearchOpen Access27 Jan 2026 Scientific Reports
P:

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News and Comment

Phases align at the membrane

The interface between biomolecular condensates and cellular membranes underlies many biological processes, yet how biomolecules and lipids reciprocally influence one another’s phase behavior remains poorly understood. A study now shows that membrane composition modulates biomolecular condensation on the membrane, pointing to a new regulatory mechanism of condensation in cells.
- Katherine K. Moran
- Wilton T. Snead
News & Views27 Jan 2026 Nature Chemical Biology
P: 1-2
Targeting transcriptional plasticity in cancer

Thymine DNA-glycosylase (TDG) has established roles in DNA repair, methylation and transcription, with some implications for cancer development. A study has now identified a synthetic lethality between TDG and p53 in cancer cells, caused by the accumulation of double-stranded RNA.
- Simon D. Schwarz
News & Views22 Jan 2026 Nature Chemical Biology
P: 1-2
Pick a color to control TRP channels

Ideal efficacy photoswitching is introduced as a concept in controlling protein activity with light. Largely independent of the concentration of a light-responsive compound, it enables TRPC4 and TRPC5 channels to be precisely agonized or antagonized depending on the color of light used.
- Jana Volarić
- Wiktor Szymanski
News & Views16 Jan 2026 Nature Chemical Biology
Volume: 22, P: 163-164
A low-toxicity linezolid analog has potential for use in all patients with tuberculosis

Systematic examination of oxazolidinone analogs for activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis and limited inhibition of the synthesis of mitochondrial proteins enabled the identification of several compounds with safety suitable for once-daily dosing. The lead molecule is effective in mouse models of disease and safe in four-month toxicity studies.

News & Views15 Jan 2026 Nature Medicine
P: 1-2
Complexoform-specific ligands that modulate the pleiotropic methyltransferase adaptor TRMT112

Activity-based protein profiling facilitated the discovery of complexation state-selective covalent ligands for the pleiotropic methyltransferase adaptor TRMT112. Structural studies revealed that these ligands bind to a pocket at the interface of TRMT112 and METTL5 that is absent in other TRMT112–methyltransferase complexes, resulting in allosteric potentiation of METTL5-mediated rRNA methylation.

News & Views13 Jan 2026 Nature Chemical Biology
P: 1-2
Targeting epigenetic readers

Although inhibiting epigenetic enzymes holds strong therapeutic promise, off-target effects remain a prevailing challenge. This study instead targets an accessory reader to fine-tune the inhibitory pathway.
- Catherine A. Musselman
- Tatiana G. Kutateladze
News & Views09 Jan 2026 Nature Chemical Biology
P: 1-2

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Chemical biology articles from across Nature Portfolio

Featured

Phases align at the membrane

Targeting transcriptional plasticity in cancer

Pick a color to control TRP channels

Related Subjects

Latest Research and Reviews

Indirect ubiquitination independent of endogenous ubiquitination machinery for targeted protein degradation

Cycling molecular assemblies for Golgi imaging and disruption

Assessing the safety of two organosulfur compounds derived from onion in western honey bee (Apis mellifera)

Defining the heterogeneous molecular landscape of lung cancer cell responses to epigenetic inhibition

Integrated chemical and biological characterization of Hypericum perforatum extract using LC-MS/MS and in vitro functional assays

Phytochemical, in silico, and in vitro studies of wheatgrass (Triticum aestivum L.) juice powder

News and Comment

Phases align at the membrane

Targeting transcriptional plasticity in cancer

Pick a color to control TRP channels

A low-toxicity linezolid analog has potential for use in all patients with tuberculosis

Complexoform-specific ligands that modulate the pleiotropic methyltransferase adaptor TRMT112

Targeting epigenetic readers

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