Browse Articles

The first evidence that the formation of protein complexes is linked to protein synthesis was already provided in the early 1960s.

In the Journal Club, Fabrizio d’Adda di Fagagna remembers how the work of Judy Campisi changed our understanding of cellular senescence and its effect on physiology and ageing, shaping the future of this research field.

Tissues undergo changes in their mechanical and material properties through alterations in cytoskeleton organization, extracellular matrix adhesion and cell–cell connectivity. These mechanical state transitions orchestrate cell proliferation and movement and tissue growth during development, in adult tissue repair and in disease contexts.

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.

Fibroblasts undergo transient activation into myofibroblasts to restore homeostasis to injured tissues. This Review explores the influence of mechanical cues and epigenetic modifications on (myo)fibroblast activation and memory and discusses potential therapeutic prevention of persistent myofibroblast activation in fibrosis.

Imaging of fluorescently labelled nascent RNA in live cells enabled real-time observation of transcription of an endogenous gene.

Recent combinations of structure-based and sequence-based calculations and machine learning tools have dramatically improved protein engineering and design. Although designing complex protein structures remains challenging, these methods have enabled the design of therapeutically relevant activities, including vaccine antigens, antivirals and drug-delivery nano-vehicles.

Friedländer and Gilbert introduce the study of ancient RNA of viruses, plants and animals, and how it can inform us of (pre)historic gene expression.

In this Tools of the Trade article, Venkova and Popard (Piel lab) discuss recent updates to the fluorescence exclusion method that now enable simultaneous measurement of cellular and nuclear size as well as investigation of small prokaryotic cells.

This Review discusses the complex mechanisms of wound healing — cell migration, matrix remodelling, inflammation and angiogenesis — and the contributions of different cell types, including immune cells, to this process. It also highlights new methodologies that could inform future therapies to prevent scarring and repair chronic wounds.

Thomas Arnesen and colleagues discuss an emerging major role of one of the most common protein modifications, N-terminal acetylation, in shielding the proteome from degradation.

Ahna Skop and Karen Schindler describe a paper that found localized translation in mammalian embryos, demonstrating the importance of RNA transport for development.

The story of a paper that established the concept of codon optimality and its connection with translation efficiency and mRNA decay.

Methodological advances have enabled discoveries of RNA polymerase interactions with RNA processing machineries, such as the splicing and 3′-end cleavage machineries. This Review discusses the roles of these interactions in gene regulation and eukaryotic cellular stress responses, and highlights parallels between co-transcriptional RNA processing in eukaryotes and prokaryotes.

In this Tools of the Trade article, Isomursu (Ivaska lab) describes a new method for dynamic micropatterning, which enables investigation of cell adhesion and migration on substrates that mimic different extracellular matrix environments.

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.

Somite formation, crucial for organization of the segmental pattern of vertebrate embryos, depends on the oscillatory expression of segmentation clock genes. Novel in vitro models of somitogenesis have provided insights into the spatiotemporal dynamics of gene expression, signalling and metabolic gradients that enable somite formation and patterning.

Gene regulation in animals depends chiefly on enhancers, yet the underlying mechanisms are poorly understood. This Review discusses enhancer–promoter interactions and transcription activation, focusing on how enhancer–promoter selectivity is achieved and on recent technical advances that may provide new insights into transcription activation.