American Society for Cell Biology

Two MT-binding domains in Kinesin-14’s tail help shape the mitotic spindle by balancing sliding and cross-linking. Study by Claire Walczak at Indiana University. ⤵️ www.molbiolcell.org/doi/10.1091/... #ASCB #CellBiology

Lawmakers to NIH: Use it or lose it.
14 Republican Senators—including key appropriators—are urging the White House to release NIH FY25 funds without delay, warning that stalled spending could harm future research budgets.
Read more: www.ascb.org/science-poli...

Carla Oliveira (U. São Paulo) traced how yeast RNA exosome subunits get to the nucleus—and pinpointed where they localize in the nucleolus. 👉🏽 Read: www.molbiolcell.org/doi/10.1091/... #ASCB #CellBiology

Kerry Bloom (UNC) reveals how reducing chromosomes in yeast alters centromere structure & mitotic tension. The “bottlebrush” needs more than just two centromeres to work. ➡️ Full article: www.molbiolcell.org/doi/10.1091/...
#ASCB #CellBiology

This week, ASCB CEO Rebecca Alvania spoke at the @faseborg.bsky.social Cytoskeletal Structure, Dynamics, and Function conference, sharing her career journey from scientist to society leader and insights on shaping the future of science.

events.faseb.org/event/2d2060...

STEM isn't neutral—institutional norms shape who thrives. A new essay from Salem State’s Tess Killpack and co-authors encourages faculty to take ownership: interrogate exclusion, and intentionally build inclusive classroom and campus niches.
Read more → www.lifescied.org/doi/10.1187/...

What happens when you knock out FAK and PYK2 in endothelial cells? In mice, it leads to p53-driven tumor suppression—blocking growth of melanoma, breast, and lung cancers.
New research from UC San Diego (David Schlaepfer):
www.molbiolcell.org/doi/10.1091/...

A game-changer for live-cell mRNA research: All Probes Plasmids (APPs) package everything you need—fluorescent tags, translation reporters, and more—so researchers can visualize single-mRNA translation in real time. By Tim Stasevich, Colorado State University. www.molbiolcell.org/doi/10.1091/...

New insights from Seoul National University reveal that certain cancer lines generate extra centrioles during mitosis when PCM proteins dip, combined with PLK4 activity. Interestingly, upping PCNT levels helped correct the issue. Research from Kunsoo Rhee et al. www.molbiolcell.org/doi/10.1091/...

In Schizosaccharomyces pombe, two α‑tubulin proteins differ by just a few amino acids—but one (nda2) is critical for meiosis. Swapping it with a nearly identical paralog (atb2) allowed normal growth, yet blocked sporulation. From Anna Kashina, UPenn → www.molbiolcell.org/doi/10.1091/...

How do you track a single-celled organism through its full life cycle?
Deep learning + microfluidics let NC State’s Orlando Arguello-Miranda follow 3 generations of yeast in real time. Details: www.molbiolcell.org/doi/10.1091/...

ASCB and others filed a new brief opposing NIH’s request to pause a court ruling that protects early-career scientist grants. The original ruling struck down NIH’s termination of those grants.

Read the brief: www.ascb.org/society-news...

Rare gut sensors, big impact: enteroendocrine cells make up just 1% of the epithelium but form the body’s largest endocrine organ. Arthur Beyder (Mayo Clinic) reviews Ca²⁺ + cAMP signaling mechanisms that trigger hormone release + explores ways to measure them. www.molbiolcell.org/doi/10.1091/...

Think worked examples are the key to learning? Think again! In a large active-learning genetics class, students believed worked examples were most useful—but actual test gains came from prediction-based exercises. From Elise Walck‑Shannon, Washington University 👩🔬 www.lifescied.org/doi/10.1187/...

What really motivates STEM students to go to office hours—or hold them back? A qualitative study led by Jeremy Hsu at Chapman University finds experiences from high school, instructor messaging, and self-confidence all play a role.

What happens when instructors acknowledge potential tension between religion and evolution? Students feel more at ease—and more accepting. New research with 2,623 students shows the power of conflict-reducing practices in the biology classroom. → www.lifescied.org/doi/10.1187/...

Cynthia Brame from Vanderbilt University shares findings on Learning Assistants in STEM: Across 1,146 student responses, LAs reduced isolation in group settings and provided valuable feedback in lecture-heavy courses. 👉 www.lifescied.org/doi/10.1187/...

Elizabeth Barnes of Middle Tennessee State University studied 191 biology students on climate change communication. They feel sure on causes, less so on solutions—and often stick to people who already agree. They want more training to broaden those conversations. 👉 www.lifescied.org/doi/10.1187/...

Juha Saarikangas (Univ. of Helsinki) created a dual reporter system for tracking amino acid sensing in yeast. It reveals how cells respond differently in liquid vs. colony environments.

Study:
www.molbiolcell.org/doi/10.1091/... #ASCB #CellBiology

Mallory Rice, CSU San Marcos, spoke with life science undergrads about balancing academic pressure with mental health. Students often sacrificed wellness for grades—and felt little support from STEM faculty—yet still saw their degrees as worth pursuing. www.lifescied.org/doi/10.1187/...

Akio Kihara of Hokkaido University shows that acylceramides & protein-bound ceramides are vital for adult skin barrier function. Conditional KO of Elovl1 alters lipid structure & water retention.

Full study: www.molbiolcell.org/doi/10.1091/... #ASCB #CellBiology

Bailey Von der Mehden, University of TN, Knoxville, examined how self-efficacy + motivation relate to final grades in introductory biology. Findings suggest self-efficacy—not motivation—is the stronger predictor, esp. after early assessments when confidence drops. www.lifescied.org/doi/10.1187/...

Erwin Peterman of Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam shows DYF-5 regulates IFT turnaround in C. elegans. Without it, retrograde transport fails, disrupting train assembly.

Read more:
www.molbiolcell.org/doi/10.1091/... #ASCB #CellBiology

🚂🧬 How do tiny cellular trains turn around? Using live C. elegans, Erwin Peterman of Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam shows how kinase DYF-5 controls IFT train reversals. Without it, traffic jams pile up at the ciliary tip.

🔍 Read: www.molbiolcell.org/doi/10.1091/... #ASCB #CellBiology

🧪🧠 STEM isn’t just equations & experiments. Western University's Dr. Sarah McLean argues that perspective-taking is a vital skill for future scientists. Her essay explores how to teach it—and why it belongs in undergrad STEM education.

🔍 Read: www.lifescied.org/doi/10.1187/...

Protect NIH and NSF Funding – Your Voice Is Urgently Needed - ASCB In the next six weeks, Congressional committees will decide how much funding the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the National Science Foundation (NSF) will receive for Fiscal Year 2026. While…

Speak up for science! Proposed cuts to NIH & NSF threaten critical research. Call your lawmakers—especially if they’re on Appropriations—and urge them to protect funding. Act now:

🔬 Getting cytokinesis right matters. Dartmouth's James Moseley finds that PP2A-B56 regulates Mid1 levels in fission yeast—keeping cell division centered and controlled.

🔍 Read: www.molbiolcell.org/doi/10.1091/... #ASCB #CellBiology

🎓💼 What happens when both partners are on the faculty job market? University of TN, Knoxville, Professor Elisabeth Schussler interviews biologist couples navigating dual academic careers—revealing strategies, sacrifices & shared goals. 🔍 Read: www.lifescied.org/doi/10.1187/...

The "Big Beautiful Bill" isn’t the federal budget—it’s a reconciliation bill focused on tax cuts. The real FY26 funding decisions for NIH, NSF, and more are happening now in Congress.

www.ascb.org/science-poli...

🧠 How do neurons know where to go? University of Toledo's Guofa Liu reveals how MYC regulates the miR-92–Robo1 pathway to guide axons across the spinal cord midline—shedding light on neural wiring logic.

🔍 Read: www.molbiolcell.org/doi/10.1091/... #ASCB #CellBiology