Reviews & Analysis

Despite a growing understanding of the immunostimulatory properties of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA), little is known about how and why mtDNA escapes its mitochondrial confines. A study now describes an endosomal trafficking pathway that facilitates mtDNA egress and provides an additional mechanism of mtDNA release in vitro.

How do metabolic stresses trigger catabolic autophagy for cell survival? A study now reveals that the metabolite sensor Pho81 integrates into and activates the kinase activity of the Atg1 complex for pexophagy triggered by phosphate starvation. This demonstrates the plasticity of the autophagy-initiating Atg1 complex.

Lipids have a pivotal role in the growth of oocytes and fertilized eggs. Ultra-sensitive lipidome analysis provides a complete overview of the lipid profile during early embryonic development and brings insights into how dynamic lipid remodelling determines the fate of mammalian embryos.

Cell–cell adhesions are inevitably exposed to mechanical forces. A landmark paper by Yonemura et al. identified how tension alters molecular function of the cadherin adhesion apparatus. Its legacy lies in the many on-going efforts to understand how mechanical force is used in cell–cell communication.

Extracellular vesicles carry proteins and lipids between cells. In a giant step forward for the field, a 2007 study published in Nature Cell Biology showed that secreted vesicles contain genetic material that is active within acceptor cells, reviving interest in extracellular vesicle-based communication in plant and animal biology.

Epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) is crucial in embryogenesis and can be exploited by cancer cells to gain metastatic abilities. A hallmark of EMT is E-cadherin loss. In 2000, Snail was reported as the first E-cadherin repressor identified in the context of EMT, advancing our understanding of embryonic development and cancer progression.

Totipotency is the absence of any developmental restriction, a feature naturally found in the early embryo right after fertilization. Generating an in vitro totipotent stem cell model is not a trivial task. For this reason, a set of stringent criteria for the identification of bona fide totipotent stem cells have been proposed.

The interplay between DNA and its associated proteins has a crucial role in regulating gene expression and determining cellular identity. Here we revisit an earlier Nature Cell Biology study that established the chromatin signature associated with pluripotency.

As Nature Cell Biology turns 25 years old, we asked cell biologists across the globe to share their thoughts on what a productive mentor–mentee relationship looks like and their views on training the next generation of cell biologists.

The different compartments of the mammary stem cell hierarchy develop into distinct breast cancer subtypes as a result of specific genetic lesions. A recent study identifies aberrant ERBB3^low luminal progenitors with altered proteostasis and translation as the cell of origin of BRCA2-mutant breast cancer.

β-adrenergic signalling induces thermogenesis in mature brown adipocytes through a well-known cAMP–protein kinase A (PKA) pathway and also promotes the growth and differentiation of new thermogenic adipocytes. A study now demonstrates that β-adrenergic agonists drive this pathway through a PKA-independent mechanism involving cAMP–EPAC1.

tRNA transcriptome composition and regulation are poorly understood. A study reports tRNA transcriptome reprogramming during human cell differentiation, where the abundance of individual tRNA gene transcripts is drastically changed, but each pool of tRNAs containing the same anticodon remains stable.

The transcriptional coactivators TAZ and YAP pair with transcriptional enhanced associate domains (TEADs) to regulate transcription. TAZ and YAP nuclear condensates ensure optimal transcription. A new study reports that FUS regulates TAZ condensates by maintaining them in a fluid state to drive transcription of target genes.

Different gut microbial metabolites have the potential to promote and protect against colorectal cancer (CRC). A study now links trans-3-indoleacrylic acid (IDA), a metabolite derived from Peptostreptococcus anaerobius, with colorectal carcinogenesis through a distinct ferroptosis pathway AHR–ALDH1A3–FSP1–CoQ₁₀.

The structures and functions of organelles are highly interdependent. Using paired 3D electron microscopy and multi-omics, a study now shows how other organelles affect mitochondrial structure and function: peroxisome-derived lipids reverse mitochondrial stress, highlighting the importance of organelle interconnectivity.

Lineage transitions are a central feature of prostate development, tumorigenesis and treatment resistance. We discovered that inhibition of mitochondrial pyruvate uptake results in large-scale chromatin remodelling of key lineage-specific genes, antagonizes luminal lineage identity, and alters response to antiandrogen therapy in prostate cancer.

Lineage plasticity and epigenetic changes underlie prostate development and cancer evolution. A new study shows that basal and luminal prostate cells have distinct metabolic profiles, with a basal-to-luminal shift intensifying pyruvate oxidation. Metabolic changes in turn influence chromatin architecture, lineage reprogramming and treatment sensitivity.

There is increasing interest in approaches that target and eliminate senescent cells. A study reports that the coatomer complex I (COPI) pathway is important for the survival of senescent cells, and suggests that targeting this pathway could hold therapeutic promise in the context of senescence-associated diseases.

By regulating the condensation of the molecular transport machinery coat protein complex II (COPII), manganese ions contribute to the regulation of lipoprotein secretion and thereby the circulating lipid levels.

The main barriers for intracellular receptors to sense circulating pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) is how these PAMPs enter the cells. A study reveals that extracellular vesicles (EVs) bind lipopolysaccharide (LPS) via the lipid bilayer and mediates LPS intracellular transfer in a CD14-dependent endocytosis to activate noncanonical NLRP3 inflammasome and pyroptosis.