Cell - a Cell Press journal

A Bacteroides synthetic biology toolkit to build an in vivo malabsorption biosensor Engineered repressible promoters enable tunable fluorescence outputs in Bacteroides and the development of biosensors that report on subclinical gut malabsorption.

Now online! A Bacteroides synthetic biology toolkit to build an in vivo malabsorption biosensor

CRISPR screens in iPSC-derived neurons reveal principles of tau proteostasis CRISPR screens in iPSC-derived neurons reveal that the E3 ubiquitin ligase CRL5SOCS4 ubiquitinates tau, that CUL5 expression is correlated with resilience in human Alzheimer’s disease, and that electron transport chain dysfunction alters tau degradation by the proteasome.

Now online! CRISPR screens in iPSC-derived neurons reveal principles of tau proteostasis

Mechanistic insights into RNA chaperoning by Ro60 and La autoantigens Structural and functional analyses elucidate the mechanisms by which two ATP-independent RNA chaperones, Ro60 and La, recognize and unfold misfolded RNAs. Diverse noncoding RNAs are associated with this chaperone machine, supporting a wide-ranging role in maintaining RNA homeostasis.

Now online! Mechanistic insights into RNA chaperoning by Ro60 and La autoantigens

A non-catalytic role for RFC in PCNA-mediated processive DNA synthesis The RFC clamp loader remains associated with PCNA beyond the loading step, supporting processive DNA replication by stabilizing the inherently unstable PCNA-polymerase ẟ complex.

Now online! A non-catalytic role for RFC in PCNA-mediated processive DNA synthesis

Scientists shed new light on the brain's role in heart attack Researchers discovered a feedback loop between nerve cells, the immune system and the heart. They think it shows promise as a target for future therapies.

My latest for @npr.org
Fascinating brain-body research @cellpress.bsky.social by UCSD neuroscientists

www.npr.org/2026/01/27/n...

Formation & function of #MembranelessOrganelles! #CryoET structures of #proteasome storage granules inside cells!
Read our paper @cp-cell.bsky.social!

❕Publication: doi.org/10.1016/j.ce...
❕Press Release: www.biochem.mpg.de/en/pressroom

@uoftmedicine.bsky.social
@erc.europa.eu #UPSmeetMet

Field-effect-informed urine liquid biopsy for bladder cancer By removing the noise from mutations in tumor-adjacent normal tissue, the field-effect-informed liquid biopsy approach increases the specificity in minimal residual disease detection in patients with non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer and identifies predictive molecular biomarkers specific to different treatment modalities.

Now online! Field-effect-informed urine liquid biopsy for bladder cancer

Metabolically regulated proteasome supramolecular organization in situ Structural steps along the assembly of proteasome storage granules—membraneless organelles that form in response to metabolic shifts in yeast—are visualized inside cells by cryo-electron tomography. Inactive 26S proteasomes oligomerize into trimers, which assemble into paracrystalline arrays that serve as reservoirs of fully assembled proteasomes under conditions of low energy, ready for reactivation when glucose is restored.

Now online! Metabolically regulated proteasome supramolecular organization in situ

A triple-node heart-brain neuroimmune loop underlying myocardial infarction This study explores the dissection of a neuroimmune pathway involving the sensory vagus nerve, the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus, and the sympathetic superior cervical ganglia underlying myocardial infarction.

Now online! A triple-node heart-brain neuroimmune loop underlying myocardial infarction

An uORF-encoded mobile peptide sparks systemic stomatal immunity In Arabidopsis, the uORF-encoded long-distance mobile peptide USIC in pathogen-infected local leaves activates systemic stomatal immunity, leading to stomatal closure in uninfected distal leaves.

Now online! An uORF-encoded mobile peptide sparks systemic stomatal immunity

A GPCR-G protein-β-arrestin megacomplex enabled by a versatile allosteric modulator Identification of atazanavir as a pan-positive allosteric modulator for family A GPCRs that stabilizes a unique GPCR-G protein-β-arrestin megacomplex and mediates sustained signaling.

Now online! A GPCR-G protein-β-arrestin megacomplex enabled by a versatile allosteric modulator

An organ-conformal, kirigami-structured bioelectronic patch for precise intracellular delivery Organ-level localized delivery is a long-standing challenge, especially for gene therapy. This study establishes a universal conformality theory that enables POCKET—a kirigami-structured bioelectronic patch—to integrate seamlessly with organs and realize precise intracellular electro-delivery of therapeutics without off-target effects.

Now online! An organ-conformal, kirigami-structured bioelectronic patch for precise intracellular delivery

AAVLINK: A potent DNA-recombination method for large cargo delivery in gene therapy Lin et al. introduce AAVLINK, a robust gene delivery platform that surpasses the traditional packaging limits of adeno-associated viruses (AAVs). This system enables efficient delivery of large therapeutic genes and CRISPR components, offering promising avenues for treating genetic disorders such as Dravet syndrome and Phelan-McDermid syndrome.

Now online! AAVLINK: A potent DNA-recombination method for large cargo delivery in gene therapy

Mammalian genome writing: Unlocking new length scales for genome engineering The ability to design and engineer mammalian genomes across arbitrary length scales would transform biology and medicine. Such capabilities would enab…

Happy to share that our review on mammalian genome writing with Jack Atwater, Ran Brosh, Jef Boeke, @jshendure.bsky.social and Matt Maurano is now out in @cellpress.bsky.social!

www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...

PIKFYVE inhibition mitigates disease in models of diverse forms of ALS (Cell 186, 786–802.e1–e15; February 16, 2023)

Now online! PIKFYVE inhibition mitigates disease in models of diverse forms of ALS

Can H5N1 avian influenza in dairy cattle be contained in the US? The emergence and sustained spread of H5N1 in US dairy cattle since 2024 have demonstrated that highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) is capable of establishing long-term transmission in livestock. Genomic surveillance has clarified national patterns of spatial diffusion, interspecies transmission, and viral evolution, but critical data gaps remain that impede efforts to track virus movements in real time, identify modes of transmission, and inform control efforts.

Now online! Can H5N1 avian influenza in dairy cattle be contained in the US?

Molecular characterization of Ebola virus glycoprotein V75A substitution in the 2018–2020 epidemic An Ebola virus glycoprotein mutant, which emerged early during the 2018–2020 epidemic, enhances viral infectivity through multiple mechanisms and may have contributed to its dominance in the outbreak.

Now online! Molecular characterization of Ebola virus glycoprotein V75A substitution in the 2018–2020 epidemic

Peripheral cancer attenuates amyloid pathology in Alzheimer’s disease via cystatin-c activation of TREM2 Peripheral cancer inhibits amyloid pathology and rescues cognition of Alzheimer’s disease through secretion of cystatin-c (Cyst-C), which binds amyloid oligomers and activates TREM2 in microglia and enables microglia to degrade pre-existing plaques.

Now online! Peripheral cancer attenuates amyloid pathology in Alzheimer’s disease via cystatin-c activation of TREM2

Cell Symposia: Immune regulation of organismal homeostasis: Keeping the middle path

Last chance to submit an abstract and be considered for a short talk @CellSymposia #CSImmuneHomeostasis26 taking place on May 11–13, 2026 in Shanghai, China
Submit here: http://dlvr.it/TQWYrx

MYC binding to nascent RNA suppresses innate immune signaling by R-loop-derived RNA-DNA hybrids RNA-binding-mediated multimerization of MYC concentrates RNA-degrading factors around double-stranded RNAs and R-loops. This prevents aberrant RNAs from accumulating and leaking into the cytosol. Through RNA binding, MYC suppresses innate immune signaling and promotes tumor growth.

Now online! MYC binding to nascent RNA suppresses innate immune signaling by R-loop-derived RNA-DNA hybrids

Fibroblasts of disparate developmental origins harbor anatomically variant scarring potential Compared with fibroblasts from other anatomical locations, neural-crest-derived facial fibroblasts upregulate SLIT2-ROBO2 signaling, a pathway important in neural crest cell biology, to promote wound healing with less fibrosis.

Now online! Fibroblasts of disparate developmental origins harbor anatomically variant scarring potential

Multimodal AI generates virtual population for tumor microenvironment modeling GigaTIME leverages multimodal AI to generate virtual multiplex immunofluorescence (mIF) profiles from standard H&E slides, enabling comprehensive tumor immune microenvironment modeling across a large ...

and a multimodal AI framework to translate H&E pathology slides to spatial proteomics
www.cell.com/cell/fulltex...

pTα enhances mRNA translation and potentiates CAR T cells for solid tumor eradication Addition of a pre-TCR domain to chimeric antigen receptors boosts mRNA translation and enables durable tumor control by T cells in both blood and solid cancers.

the boosting of mRNA translation for durable tumor control by T cells
www.cell.com/cell/abstrac...

Establishing the relationship between brain cellular senescence and brain structure Cellular senescence and brain structural changes represent defining features of aging, yet their relationship remains poorly understood. This study demonstrates a molecular link between these processe...

as well as research articles on how cellular senescence associates with brain-wide structural features
www.cell.com/cell/fulltex...

Mammalian genome writing: Unlocking new length scales for genome engineering From single-base edits to engineering the delivery of large DNA constructs, this review covers the advances in mammalian genome writing and its promise in enabling transformative advances in gene regu...

This issue features a Review on the state-of-the-art of genome engineering
www.cell.com/cell/fulltex...

The new issue is out! 👉https://www.cell.com/cell/current

On the cover, Tzouanas et al. show how environmental stressors like high-fat diets challenge the social contract unifying cellular citizens, pushing some cells to prioritize their own survival over collective community goals.

Human nasal passages defend against the common cold and help determine how sick we get. Read the full article from @ellenfoxman.bsky.social & colleagues:
www.cell.com/cell-press-b...

#ResearchWithInfinitePotential

Cell-type resolved protein atlas of brain lysosomes identifies SLC45A1-associated disease as a lysosomal disorder This study describes the cell-type-specific lysosomal proteome across the major brain cell types and identifies SLC45A1 as a neuron-specific lysosomal sugar exporter linked to lysosomal storage disease.

Now online! Cell-type resolved protein atlas of brain lysosomes identifies SLC45A1-associated disease as a lysosomal disorder

Mechanistic insights into fatty acid odor detection mediated by class II olfactory receptors Cryo-EM structures reveal how Olfr110, a class II odorant receptor, binds hydrophobic odorants such as unsaturated fatty acid metabolites in a large polar pocket with an unconventional activation mechanism, defining the structural basis of odor recognition and guiding drug targeting.

Now online! Mechanistic insights into fatty acid odor detection mediated by class II olfactory receptors

Structural decoding of reversible covalent linkage of odorants in human olfactory receptor OR6A2 The human olfactory receptor OR6A2, re-engineered to be functional, demonstrates the mechanism by which it detects aldehydes. Using this approach, Wang, Wu, et al. uncovered a broadly conserved activation switch in class II odorant receptors. This work also outlines a practical approach to decode smell, with potential uses in fragrance design and inflammation therapy.

Now online! Structural decoding of reversible covalent linkage of odorants in human olfactory receptor OR6A2