This research investigates how satellite glial cells (SGCs) support the immense energy needs of sensory neurons within the dorsal root ganglia through mitochondrial transfer. Scientists utilized MitoTag mice and human tissue samples to demonstrate that these supporting glia physically deliver power-producing organelles to neurons via tunneling nanotubes. The study highlights that this biological exchange is critical for maintaining neuronal activity and facilitating axonal regeneration following injury. Evidence suggests that disrupting this transfer, particularly by knocking down the protein MYO10, contributes to the development of chronic pain and neuropathies. These findings offer a new perspective on metabolic cooperation in the nervous system and suggest that targeting glial-to-neuron communication could lead to innovative treatments for neuropathic pain.

References:

• Xu J, Li Y, Novak C, et al. Mitochondrial transfer from glia to neurons protects against peripheral neuropathy[J]. Nature, 2026: 1-10.

This study investigates the physical mechanics of cytokinesis, specifically focusing on how a contractile band forms and functions during cell division in zebrafish embryos. Researchers utilized advanced microscopy techniques and specialized tools like magnetic and optical tweezers to measure the viscoelastic properties of the cell’s internal structure. Their findings suggest that the actin cortex is not the primary anchor for the contractile band, challenging existing models of how cells partition. Through laser ablation experiments and numerical simulations, the authors demonstrate how mechanical tension and flow contribute to the ingression of the cell membrane. Ultimately, the paper provides a detailed biophysical profile of the forces that drive successful cytoplasmic partitioning in a living vertebrate model.

References:

• Kickuth A, Uršič U, Staddon M F, et al. A mechanical ratchet drives unilateral cytokinesis[J]. Nature, 2026: 1-9.

The paper details the expansion of the ENCODE registry, a comprehensive catalog of candidate cis-regulatory elements (cCREs) used to study gene expression in humans and mice. Researchers nearly tripled the registry's size to include 2.37 million human elements by utilizing advanced computational methods and diverse datasets across hundreds of cell types. This updated resource introduces new functional categories, such as silencers and latent enhancers, which were validated through large-scale assays like STARR-seq and CRISPR perturbations. The sources demonstrate the registry's utility in interpreting genetic variation, specifically identifying KLF1 as a likely causal gene for red blood cell traits. Ultimately, this expanded framework provides a vital tool for understanding the regulatory genome and its impact on human health and disease.

References:

• Moore J E, Pratt H E, Fan K, et al. An expanded registry of candidate cis-regulatory elements[J]. Nature, 2026: 1-10.

The paper introduces SpaceBar, a novel biotechnology that integrates cellular clone tracing with high-resolution spatial transcriptomics. By using a library of 96 synthetic barcodes to uniquely label cells, researchers can simultaneously monitor ancestral lineages and gene activity within their physical tissue environments. The study demonstrates the tool's effectiveness in both melanoma cultures and mouse xenografts, revealing how cellular functions are shaped by either internal heritage or external surroundings. A key finding highlights that while most gene expression is dictated by spatial location, certain markers like SFRP1 exhibit strong clonal inheritance. Ultimately, SpaceBar provides a sophisticated framework for distinguishing between heritable traits and environmental influences in complex biological systems.

References:

• Kinsler G, Fagan C, Li H, et al. SpaceBar enables single-cell-resolution clone tracing with imaging-based spatial transcriptomics[J]. Nature Methods, 2025: 1-6.

This research into lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) highlights their critical role in delivering RNA therapeutics by protecting genetic cargo and facilitating cellular entry. These delivery systems are complex structures typically assembled through microfluidic mixing, resulting in an ionizable lipid core that responds to physiological pH. Researchers utilize diverse imaging modalities, such as optical microscopy and nuclear imaging, to track how these particles move through the body and enter specific cells. Advanced strategies to refine targeting and expression include modifying the RNA itself with microRNA target sites or specific binding motifs to ensure activity only in desired tissues. Furthermore, engineering the resulting proteins with localization signals allows for precise control over where they function within the cell. Ultimately, these innovations aim to improve the safety and effectiveness of vaccines and gene therapies by minimizing off-target effects.

References:

• Kang, D.D., Marks, A., Morla-Folch, J. et al. Targeting and tracking mRNA lipid nanoparticles at the particle, transcript and protein level. Nat. Biomed. Eng 9, 1591–1609 (2025). doi.org

This research introduces UNAGI, a deep generative model designed to analyze cellular dynamics and facilitate in silico drug discovery for complex diseases like idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and COVID-19. By combining a graph VAE-GAN architecture with gene regulatory network inference, the tool maps how cell populations transition across different stages of a disease. UNAGI distinguishes itself from previous methods by using an iterative training strategy that emphasizes disease-specific markers, improving the precision of cell embeddings. The model enables researchers to perform simulated perturbations, virtually testing thousands of compounds to identify those that might shift diseased cells back toward a healthy state. Validated through precision-cut lung slices, this framework identifies potential therapeutic candidates, such as nifedipine, without requiring prior experimental drug-response data. Ultimately, UNAGI offers a scalable, unsupervised solution for decoding the temporal complexity of multifactorial disorders.

References:

• Zheng Y, Schupp J C, Adams T, et al. A deep generative model for deciphering cellular dynamics and in silico drug discovery in complex diseases[J]. Nature Biomedical Engineering, 2025: 1-26.

Researchers have developed a novel microfluidic system designed to streamline the process of protein structure determination using cryo-electron microscopy. This technology, known as the MISO instrument, integrates sample purification and grid preparation onto a single chip, significantly reducing the amount of biological material required. By utilizing this workflow, the team successfully mapped the atomic structure of β-galactosidase starting from just a single bacterial colony. The study also demonstrates the system's versatility by resolving the structures of various membrane proteins, including the chloride channel btTMEM206 and the lipid scramblase mTMEM16F. Technical details within the text explain the fabrication of PDMS chips and the implementation of automated cryo-plunging modules to ensure high-resolution results. Ultimately, this advancement offers a more efficient alternative to conventional methods that typically demand large volumes of cell culture.

References:

• Eluru G, De Gieter S, Schenck S, et al. MISO: microfluidic protein isolation enables single-particle cryo-EM structure determination from a single cell colony[J]. Nature methods, 2025: 1-11.

This research explores how extrachromosomal DNA (ecDNA) functions as a primary catalyst for gene fusions and oncogene amplification in various human cancers. The study identifies that ecDNA-borne fusions, particularly those involving the PVT1 lncRNA, significantly enhance the stability of oncogenic transcripts like MYC. Mechanistically, the PVT1 exon 1 segment binds to the protein SRSF1, allowing the resulting fusion RNA to evade standard cellular degradation pathways. This interaction increases the half-life of cancer-driving messages, leading to higher protein levels and increased tumor fitness. Ultimately, these findings reveal that ecDNA promotes malignancy not just through increased gene copies, but by creating stabilized fusion transcripts that resist suppression.

References:

• Yi H, Zhang S, Swinderman J, et al. EcDNA-borne structural variants drive oncogenic fusion transcript amplification[J]. Cell, 2026.

Researchers developed LOCL-TL, a novel optogenetic tool that uses blue light to control a site-specific biotin ligase, allowing for the precise monitoring of protein translation within specific cellular regions. By applying this method to human mitochondria, the study discovered that approximately 20% of nuclear-encoded mitochondrial genes are synthesized directly at the outer mitochondrial membrane. The findings reveal a dual-strategy system where long proteins are recruited during translation via a bipartite signal, while short proteins are targeted through an AKAP1-mediated process involving mRNA and introns. This translation-independent recruitment of short sequences, which are vital for respiratory chain function, appears to be a unique evolutionary development in mammals not found in yeast. Ultimately, the study demonstrates that localized translation is essential for maintaining mitochondrial protein levels and efficient metabolic activity.

References:

• Luo J, Khandwala S, Hu J, et al. Proximity-specific ribosome profiling reveals the logic of localized mitochondrial translation[J]. Cell, 2025, 188(20): 5589-5604. e17.

This research identifies a unique plasticity state in germinal center B cells that is temporarily triggered by T follicular helper (TFH) cells. Under normal conditions, these B cells undergo extensive epigenetic remodeling to adapt their function, yet they remain susceptible to malignant transformation. The study demonstrates that this flexible state, while necessary for a healthy immune response, can be hijacked by lymphoma mutations to promote aggressive disease. Specifically, the loss of histone H1 or mutations in BTG1 allow B cells to bypass standard developmental barriers, adopting stem-like characteristics. Clinical data suggests that patients whose tumors maintain this stem-like signature face significantly poorer survival outcomes. Consequently, the findings suggest that the very mechanisms enabling immune adaptability also create a pathological window for cancer development.

References:

• Scourzic L, Izzo F, Teater M, et al. T follicular helper cells transiently unlock a plasticity state in germinal centre B cells during the humoral immune response[J]. Nature Cell Biology, 2025: 1-14.