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Modifying heart cell metabolism unlocks self-repair system after heart attack

Researchers at Sanford Burnham Prebys discovered that blocking an energy transfer enzyme shifts mammalian hearts into a regenerative state, promoting regeneration and improving recovery after a heart attack. By modulating heart cell metabolism, scientists can potentially awaken the heart's dormant regenerative abilities.

SourceSanford Burnham Prebys·JournalNature Cardiovascular Research·TypeExperimental study·DateSep 28, 2026

Why does the immune system sometimes help tumors grow?

Salk Institute researchers have discovered a novel pathway that links chronic interferon II exposure to mitochondrial dysfunction, leading to immunosuppression and enhanced tumor growth. By blocking prostaglandin E2, they found a viable target to restore immune system function and combat immunotherapy resistance.

SourceSalk Institute·JournalScience·DateSep 10, 2026

NUS Medicine researchers identify promising broad-spectrum antiviral candidate against enteroviruses

Researchers have identified GW406108X, a broad-spectrum antiviral compound, that can inhibit a range of enteroviruses, including EV-D68, by targeting a process in human cells. The compound showed activity against multiple viruses, including Rhinovirus A16, and reduced EV-D68 levels by 1,000-fold in laboratory experiments.

Elucidating the underlying mechanism of Atg2-mediated lipid transfer in autophagy

Researchers have discovered the underlying mechanism of Atg2-mediated lipid transfer in autophagy, revealing two distinct mechanisms that enable proper growth of the autophagosomal membrane. The phosphorylation of a specific region of Atg2, mediated by Atg1, enables its binding to the endoplasmic reticulum and subsequent lipid transfer.

SourceInstitute of Science Tokyo·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeExperimental study·DateSep 4, 2026

New imaging technique reveals the inner workings of immune cells

Researchers have developed a nondestructive imaging technique to measure single-cell immune metabolism in real patient blood samples, providing a higher level of information than current clinical techniques. This breakthrough could improve disease diagnosis and treatment for conditions like blood cancers, lupus, and sepsis.

SourceMorgridge Institute for Research·JournalBiophotonics Discovery·TypeImaging analysis·DateSep 1, 2026

Controlling oxygen to fight disease

Researchers at Gladstone Institutes found that hypoxia therapy can extend lifespan and improve brain function in mice with motor neuron degeneration. The therapy works by reducing the amount of oxygen available to cells, which can help counteract the effects of defective mitochondrial quality control machinery.

SourceGladstone Institutes·JournalNature Metabolism·DateJul 8, 2026

Scientists uncover two neuronal circuits orchestrating muscle autophagy

Researchers identified two parallel neuronal circuits regulating autophagy-lysosome pathway in C. elegans body wall muscle. The first circuit involves electrical synapses and the second originates from ASI sensory neurons, both converging on a Ca2+-calpain-lysosome signaling cascade to maintain muscle homeostasis.

SourceChinese Academy of Sciences Headquarters·JournalDevelopmental Cell·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 3, 2026

Obesity may influence how breast cancer spreads

Researchers found that obesity alters the biological changes in breast cancer cells, enabling them to survive and thrive. The study's findings could improve prediction and treatment of invasive breast cancer, reducing overtreatment and unnecessary treatments.

SourceUniversity of Oklahoma·JournalAmerican Journal Of Pathology·TypeExperimental study·DateMay 28, 2026

Blocking TGF-β signaling may strengthen efficacy of osteoporosis therapy

Researchers identify TGF-β signaling pathway as key regulator of osteoblast quiescence, suggesting its inhibition can aid in reactivation of dormant osteoblasts. Combining TGF-β-blocking antibodies with anti-sclerostin treatment shows promising therapeutic potential for osteoporosis treatment.

SourceEditorial Office of West China School of Stomatology, Sichuan University·JournalBone Research·TypeExperimental study·DateMay 8, 2026

Study identifies a key mechanism in the degeneration of motor neurons in ALS

A team of researchers has identified a key mechanism in the degeneration of motor neurons in ALS, revealing that chaperone-mediated autophagy is significantly reduced in patients. This finding suggests that this cellular system may be a potential therapeutic target to slow disease progression.

SourceUniversidad Miguel Hernandez de Elche·JournalActa Neuropathologica Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 30, 2026

How does mitochondrial DNA affect your health?

Salk Institute researchers have developed a new biological platform for studying mitochondrial DNA in human physiology, adaptation, and therapeutic development. The platform allows scientists to investigate mitochondrial DNA variation in health and disease, enabling therapeutic innovation for mitochondrial disorders.

SourceSalk Institute·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateApr 6, 2026

Itaconate modifications: mechanisms and applications

Researchers summarize itaconate biology highlighting its chemical reactivity and therapeutic potential in treating infectious diseases, sepsis, autoimmunity, neurodegenerative disorders. Itaconate exerts biological effects through post-translational modifications, altering protein activity and signaling pathways

SourceJournal of Intensive Medicine·JournalJournal of Intensive Medicine·TypeLiterature review·DateJan 15, 2026

A glimpse into the cell factory: matching gene expression to metabolite production in single plant cells

A new approach allows scientists to directly correlate gene expression with metabolite abundance, enabling the elucidation of complex plant natural product biosynthetic pathways. This method can help identify specialized cell types involved in producing therapeutically relevant chemical compounds.

SourceMax Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 27, 2025

Worms reveal just how cramped cells really are

Researchers tracked the movement of fluorescent particles inside the cells of microscopic worms, providing unprecedented insights into cellular crowding. The study found that the cytoplasm inside the worms was significantly more crowded and compartmentalized than in single-celled yeast or mammalian tissue culture cells.

SourceUniversity of California - Davis·JournalScience Advances·TypeExperimental study·DateSep 10, 2025

New model enables the study of how protein complex influences mitochondrial function

A study by the Center for Redox Processes in Biomedicine presents a valuable new experimental model for investigating the interaction between the proteasome and mitochondrial function. The proteasome plays a role in protein quality control, while mitochondrial metabolism affects protein degradation efficiency.

SourceFundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo·JournalArchives of Biochemistry and Biophysics·DateJun 27, 2025

Pennington Biomedical Research Center investigates tirzepatide's role in weight loss and metabolic health

Researchers at Pennington Biomedical Research Center investigated tirzepatide's effects on weight loss and metabolic health. The study found that tirzepatide decreased calorie intake and increased fat oxidation, leading to significant weight loss. However, the drug did not decrease the slowing down of metabolic rate usually observed wi...

SourcePennington Biomedical Research Center·JournalCell Metabolism·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateApr 24, 2025

Deep-sea corals are home to previously unknown bacteria with extremely small genomes

Researchers have discovered two previously unknown bacterial species in deep-sea corals from the Gulf of Mexico. These bacteria have extremely reduced genomes and lack the ability to break down carbohydrates, surviving on amino acids instead. The discovery provides insights into the unique adaptations of deep-sea organisms.

SourceUniversity of Oldenburg·JournalNature Communications·TypeObservational study·DateNov 4, 2024

What we can learn from hungry yeast cells

Scientists discovered a unique way in which yeast cells adapt to starvation by coating their mitochondria with massive molecular complexes called ribosomes. This adaptation has potential implications for cancer treatment as it may help overcome the challenges faced by cancer cells when they are starved of nutrients.

SourceEuropean Molecular Biology Laboratory·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 8, 2024

Microautophagy is essential for preventing aging

A study published in EMBO Reports reveals that microautophagy is crucial for repairing damaged lysosomes, which helps prevent cellular aging. The researchers identified key regulators of this process, including STK38 and GABARAPs, and found that their depletion increases the rate of senescent cells and shortens lifespan in C. elegans.

SourceOsaka University·JournalEMBO Reports·TypeExperimental study·DateNov 21, 2023

Cell biology: How cellular powerhouses call for help when under stress

A team of researchers from Goethe University Frankfurt has discovered a central switch point in the mitochondrial signaling chain under misfolding stress. The mitochondria send two chemical signals to the cell when protein misfolding stress occurs, triggering a protective response that reduces misfolded proteins and stabilizes membranes.

SourceGoethe University Frankfurt·JournalNature·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 28, 2023

Structural biology: Molecular scissors caught in the act

Researchers have successfully visualized the three-dimensional structure of human tRNA splicing endonuclease TSEN, a crucial enzyme in tRNA maturation. The study reveals how TSEN recognizes and excises introns from precursor tRNAs, shedding light on its role in neurodegenerative disorders like pontocerebellar hypoplasia.

SourceGoethe University Frankfurt·JournalNature Structural & Molecular Biology·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 13, 2023

The search for the origin of a rare tumor points to a poorly studied mechanism as a new would-be hot topic in cancer research: ‘succinylation’

Scientists at CNIO identify succinylation as a poorly studied mechanism in cancer research; mutated DLST protein prevents succinylation, leading to pseudohypoxia and tumor growth. Succinylation is crucial for protein function and may be linked to various diseases.

SourceCentro Nacional de Investigaciones Oncológicas (CNIO)·JournalCancer Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateMay 9, 2023