Cell biology articles within Nature Cell Biology

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  • Research Briefing |

    We show that the mitochondrial fission proteins MiD49 and MiD51 are activated by fatty acyl-coenzyme A (FA-CoA). FA-CoA binds in a previously identified pocket located within MiDs, inducing their oligomerization and ability to activate the dynamin DRP1, ultimately promoting mitochondrial fission. Activated MiDs synergize with mitochondrial fission factor (MFF) in stimulating DRP1 activity, leading us to hypothesize that MiDs act upstream of MFF during mitochondrial fission.

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Reicher, Reiniš et al. report a method for multicolour tagging using genome-scale intron-targeting sgRNA libraries that, in combination with computer vision, enables the systematic detection of protein localization changes.

    • Andreas Reicher
    • , Jiří Reiniš
    •  & Stefan Kubicek

  • Comment |

    Volume electron microscopy (vEM) generates large 3D volumes of cells or tissues at nanoscale resolutions, enabling analyses of organelles in their cellular environment. Here, we provide examples of vEM in cell biology and discuss community efforts to develop standards in sample preparation and image acquisition for enhanced reproducibility and data reuse.

    • Kirk James Czymmek
    • , Ilya Belevich
    •  & Eija Jokitalo

  • News & Views |

    When transcription by RNA polymerase II is stalled by ultraviolet-induced DNA damage, it recruits repair factors, leading to excision of the damaged site and DNA synthesis to fill the gap. Three new studies show that, for aldehyde-induced DNA crosslinks, repair is activated by the same factors, but without base excision and gap filling.

    • Marco Saponaro

  • News & Views |

    Diverse, specialized immune cells defend against pathogens and cancer cells. A new study reveals the comprehensive lipid compositions of these cells, with unique lipidomes associated with various immune cell types. They show that cell-specific lipid compositions determine a key functional phenotype: their susceptibility to ferroptosis.

    • Kandice R. Levental
    •  & Whitney S. Henry

  • News & Views |

    Eukaryotic transcriptional machinery often shows local enrichment in dynamic clusters at sites of high expression. A study of zebrafish embryos shows that such clusters can fine-tune the timing of zygotic genome activation by sequestering a component required for productive transcription, thus limiting its availability to other genes.

    • Natalia Stec
    •  & Adam Klosin

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Ugolini et al. show that transcription bodies regulate gene expression during zygotic genome activation in zebrafish development by sequestering CDK9 to limit the transcription of genes away from transcription bodies.

    • Martino Ugolini
    • , Maciej A. Kerlin
    •  & Nadine L. Vastenhouw

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Ding et al. find a mechanism coordinating fatty acid and glucose supply. Glucose-driven Golgi phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate levels impact the assembly of E3 ligase complex CUL7–FBXW8, controlling adipose triglyceride lipase levels and lipolysis.

    • Lianggong Ding
    • , Florian Huwyler
    •  & Christian Wolfrum

  • News & Views |

    Progeria, or premature ageing, is a devastating condition caused by defects in the nuclear envelope and is associated with systemic inflammation. A study now shows in animal models that inhibiting necroptosis, and particularly activity of the RIPK1 kinase, reduces inflammation and results in a meaningful extension in lifespan1.

    • Panxue Wang
    •  & John Silke

  • Comment |

    Despite the constant renewal of their components, cellular actin networks maintain their overall appearance, through a subtle balance of filament assembly and disassembly. This balance is key to the remodelling of cellular architecture. We discuss the significance of in vitro reconstitutions in deciphering the complexity of actin regulation.

    • Manuel Théry
    •  & Laurent Blanchoin

  • News & Views |

    β-propeller protein-associated neurodegeneration (BPAN) is caused by loss of functional WIPI4. A new study reports that depletion of WIPI4 induces ferroptosis via changes in mitochondrial membrane lipids, independently of the role of WIPI4 in autophagy, providing insights into the cause of neurodegeneration in BPAN.

    • Yang Liu
    •  & Hongyuan Yang

  • Review Article |

    Mathiowetz and Olzmann review our current understanding of the mechanisms of lipid droplet biogenesis and turnover, the transfer of lipids and metabolites at membrane contact sites, and the role of lipid droplets in regulating fatty acid flux in lipotoxicity and cell death.

    • Alyssa J. Mathiowetz
    •  & James A. Olzmann

  • News & Views |

    The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) controls the synthesis of lipids and proteins and Ca2+ homeostasis, as well as contacting other organelles and the plasma membrane. A study now looks at a process by which this compartment is remodelled in axons during neurogenesis: the lysosomal clearance of ER subdomains, driven by FAM134 and CCPG1 proteins.

    • Maurizio Molinari

  • Perspective |

    In this Perspective, Zhang discusses the latest advances in understanding of iron function, regulation and metabolism, as well as the implications for ferroptosis in health and disease.

    • Donna D. Zhang

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Hoyer et al. establish that selective autophagy mechanisms are needed to remodel the ER and its proteome during in vitro neurogenesis across neuronal subcompartments and decode the substrate selectivity of ER-phagy receptors.

    • Melissa J. Hoyer
    • , Cristina Capitanio
    •  & J. Wade Harper

  • News & Views |

    Biomolecular condensates are recognized for their ability to compartmentalize the cytoplasm without bounding membranes, but the degree to which they organize the cytoplasm has not been clear. A new study reveals that condensates at a scale of 100 nm are responsible for the organization of at least 18% of the cytoplasmic proteome.

    • Leshani Ahangama Liyanage
    •  & Jonathon A. Ditlev

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Rai et al. report that CAMSAPs can bind to minus ends of microtubules attached to γ-tubulin ring complex (γ-TuRC) and drive microtubule release. They show that CDK5RAP2, but not CLASP2, inhibits CAMSAP-mediated microtubule release from γ-TuRC.

    • Dipti Rai
    • , Yinlong Song
    •  & Anna Akhmanova

  • Review Article |

    In this Review, Dai, Stockwell, Kroemer, Tang and colleagues offer a comprehensive discussion of the molecular regulation of ferroptosis and highlight how this may be potentially leveraged for therapeutic benefit for disease treatment.

    • Enyong Dai
    • , Xin Chen
    •  & Daolin Tang

  • Research Briefing |

    Contractile activity of both the epithelium and underlying mesenchyme are required for epithelial deformation and cell fate acquisition during early mouse hair follicle development. Subsequently, localized basement membrane remodelling facilitates the release of tension-generated pressure to promote cell divisions, tissue fluidification and downgrowth of the developing hair follicle.

  • News & Views |

    Mechanical forces are ubiquitously present in biology. In recent years, it has become clear how plasma membranes detect these forces — but how do intracellular organelles such as lysosomes do the same, and what might be the functions of such intracellular mechanosensing? Answers may come through a report of a lysosomal mechanosensitive ion channel, TMEM63.

    • Erika Riederer
    •  & Dejian Ren

  • Research Briefing |

    The generation of clathrin-coated vesicles during endocytosis requires the co-ordinated recruitment of dozens of proteins to the plasma membrane. We discovered that the plant TPLATE (or TSET) complex (TPC) undergoes biomolecular condensation through interactions with plasma membrane phospholipids and, via weak multivalent interactions, recruits clathrin and other endocytic proteins to facilitate the efficient progression of endocytosis.

  • News & Views |

    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.

    • Kate McArthur
    •  & Benjamin T. Kile

  • News & Views |

    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.

    • Xiaoli Ma
    •  & Hong Zhang

  • News & Views |

    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.

    • Megumi Ibayashi
    •  & Satoshi Tsukamoto

  • Comment |

    Women and gender minorities make defining contributions to science. Despite increased representation of women across the scientific career ladder, institutions routinely fail to support their career advancement or value their input. For an equitable and intersectional future faculty, definitions of excellence must evolve to better value women’s contributions.

    • Chrystal A. Starbird
    • , Zara Y. Weinberg
    •  & Mary Munson

  • Comment |

    Advances in technology dramatically accelerate biology research, with computation being a standout example. Typically, adapting a new technology follows stages from method creation, via proof-of-concept application to biology, to the development of usable tools. Creating user-friendly software to bridge computer science and biology is a crucial step, yielding high returns on investment and driving biological discoveries. However, we need dedicated resources and a shift in the academic reward system to harness the full potential of computer science in biology.

    • Anne E. Carpenter
    •  & Shantanu Singh

  • Comment |

    Intellectual freedom for scientists, unconstrained by commercial interests and direct application, fuels unexpected discoveries. Curiosity-driven, basic science has yielded a deeper understanding of how life forms develop and function in their environment and has had wide implications for health and our planet. Investing in this is vital for scientific progress and is worth protecting in a democracy.

    • Ruth Lehmann

  • News & Views |

    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.

    • Zoya Mann
    •  & Alpha S. Yap

  • News & Views |

    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.

    • Graça Raposo
    •  & Philip D. Stahl

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