Category: Biology
- MCT1 supports mitochondrial lactate use and cardiac resilience in experimental models ()
Published October 30, 2026. A Nature study published October 28 identifies a route by which heart mitochondria use lactate as fuel. Researchers found MCT1, a transporter usually associated with the cell surface, in the inner mitochondrial membrane of mouse and human heart-muscle cells. Working with mitochondrial LDHB, MCT1 supports conversion of lactate into pyruvate and […]
- METTL1 inhibitor STM9005 slows cancer growth in preclinical models ()
Published October 30, 2026. Researchers report a small molecule, STM9005, that selectively inhibits METTL1, an enzyme involved in adding an RNA modification called m7G to transfer RNAs. The Nature study was published October 28. In cancer-cell experiments, inhibiting METTL1 reduced growth, altered differentiation and disrupted cell-cycle progression. Changes in selected transfer RNAs affected the production […]
- Renal cancer assembloids reveal a fibroblast–T cell pathway influencing immunotherapy response ()
Published October 30, 2026. A Nature study published October 28 introduces patient-derived renal cancer assembloids that combine tumor cells, cancer-associated fibroblasts and tumor-infiltrating immune cells. The approach lets researchers manipulate individual components while studying their interactions. The team initially used pretreatment samples from six patients to construct patient-matched models. Combining genetically engineered assembloids with humanized […]
- Cryo-EM study examines how human VIAAT packages inhibitory neurotransmitters ()
Published October 30, 2026. A Cell Research study combines cryo-electron microscopy, molecular dynamics simulations and functional experiments to investigate human VIAAT, the transporter that loads inhibitory neurotransmitters into synaptic vesicles. VIAAT packages both GABA and glycine for release by neurons. Understanding how it recognizes these different molecules and couples transport to ions helps explain a […]
- Bioresorbable metal-free magnets track organ movement in pig studies ()
Published October 29, 2026. Researchers have developed a metal-free magnetic material that can serve as a temporary implanted signal source for monitoring organ movement. The Nature Materials study appeared October 19, with an accompanying research briefing published October 28. The material is derived from graphitic carbon nitride. Removing nitrogen creates interacting electron-spin centers that support […]
- HDAC4 inhibition suppresses resistant prostate cancer in preclinical models ()
Published October 29, 2026. A study published October 26 identifies HDAC4 as a potential drug target in castration-resistant prostate cancer. Researchers report that this protein helps cancer cells suppress a brake on cell division. HDAC4 formed a regulatory complex with HDAC2 and YY1 that reduced expression of CDKN1B, the gene encoding p27. Disrupting the complex […]
- ACTH-linked antioxidant signaling protects adrenal cells in mouse experiments ()
Published October 29, 2026. Researchers linked dexamethasone-induced adrenal cell death in mice to weakened antioxidant defenses and mitochondrial oxidative stress. ACTH co-treatment reduced damage. Cell experiments implicated an ACTH–SF1–NRF2 pathway supporting antioxidant gene expression. Human tissue comparisons showed related abnormalities, but this was not a clinical treatment trial. The findings identify a potential protective mechanism; […]
- Resiquimod partially enriches bull sperm fractions without impairing cryosurvival at selected doses ()
Published October 29, 2026. A new cattle study examines whether resiquimod can partially separate sperm carrying X or Y chromosomes while preserving their ability to withstand freezing and thawing. Researchers processed 24 ejaculates from three Frieswal bulls using three resiquimod concentrations. After incubation, they collected upper and lower fractions, cryopreserved them and assessed sperm quality […]
- Cryo-electron tomography reveals local organization of the human mitotic spindle ()
Published October 29, 2026. Cryo-electron tomography is revealing how short microtubules organize into the machinery that separates chromosomes during human cell division. Conway and colleagues report the findings today in Nature Communications. The mitotic spindle must build a coherent bipolar structure from filaments that do not necessarily span the distance between a spindle pole and […]
- Darutigenol links gut microbial proline production to colitis improvement in mice ()
Published October 29, 2026. A preclinical study links the anti-inflammatory effects of darutigenol to gut microbial metabolism. Li and colleagues published the findings today in Nature Communications. Using male mice with experimental colitis, the researchers combined multi-omics analyses with fecal microbiota transplantation experiments to investigate the compound’s effects. The benefit depended on the gut microbiota. […]