Biological Reviews最新文献

{"title":"The physiological effects of APOE genotype in healthy young/middle-aged individuals.","authors":"Sherida M de Leeuw, Sheina Emrani, Julian Putter, Tal Nuriel","doi":"10.1002/brv.70187","DOIUrl":"10.1002/brv.70187","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The apolipoprotein E ε4 (APOE4) allele is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease and for multiple neurodegenerative diseases, most notably Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, in healthy infants to adults, the encoded apolipoprotein E protein plays a role in many physiological functions, in both the periphery and in the brain, which can help us understand the biological contribution of this protein to disease. This review aims to describe the role of APOE genotype in a wide range of human physiological processes in healthy young/middle-aged individuals, including reproduction, cardiovascular health, inflammation, lipid metabolism, cognition, and brain structure/function, as well as how APOE genotype mediates the effects of external factors in these individuals, such as traumatic brain injury, pollution, lifestyle factors, and viral infections. The research covered in this review demonstrates that a person's APOE genotype affects a wide array of human physiological processes, from infancy to adulthood, with important differences observed in male and female study participants. We also discuss the evolutionary involvement and the 'antagonistic pleiotropy' hypothesis of APOE4. Understanding the biology and the mechanisms that are affected by APOE genotype in healthy young/middle-aged individuals is vital for understanding how this common allele contributes to the development of cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases, and how these diseases can be prevented.</p>","PeriodicalId":133,"journal":{"name":"Biological Reviews","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":10.9,"publicationDate":"2026-05-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13256119/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148051374","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"RNA-centric world of retroviruses: unravelling the molecular strategies of genomic RNA packaging.","authors":"Mohammad Abdullah Jehad, Suresha G Prabhu, Lizna M Ali, Vineeta N Pillai, Farah Mustafa, Tahir A Rizvi","doi":"10.1002/brv.70188","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/brv.70188","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Retroviruses constitute a unique group of RNA viruses that have profoundly influenced both evolutionary trajectories and biomedical research. Their ability to reverse transcribe and integrate into host genomes has shaped genomic architecture across species and contributed to our understanding of oncogenes, gene regulation, and RNA biology. This review provides an in-depth examination of retroviral molecular biology, beginning with the intricacies of their genome organization. We present an in-depth discussion of the complex interplay of cis- and trans-acting RNA elements during retrovirus replication, ending with a focus on genomic RNA packaging as the basis of infectious virion production. Emphasis is placed on how, among the various viral proteins, it is the retroviral Gag (Group-specific antigen) that selectively orchestrates the packaging of the unspliced RNA amid a background of cellular and spliced viral RNAs. This is followed by our current understanding of how this process is affected by the retroviral Gag/Pol (Polymerase) and Gag/Pro (Protease)/Pol precursor proteins in the context to which the actual virion assembly takes place. Next, the review outlines emerging concepts regarding the structural basis of RNA recognition, the pivotal role of unpaired purines and long-range intragenomic interactions (LRIs), in guiding genome selection. It discusses the dynamic processes of RNA dimerization and how it is not just intricately linked but is a pre-requisite for genomic RNA encapsidation. Special attention is given to the new findings on transcription start site heterogeneity, cap sequestration, and epitranscriptomic modifications in shaping the fate of retroviral RNAs between translation and packaging since both these processes are critical for a successful viral life cycle. The review also addresses the involvement of assembly intermediates, and liquid-liquid phase separation in orchestrating efficient genome packaging and virus maturation. By integrating classical discoveries with recent findings, the review underscores the sophistication of retrovirus replication and proposes new avenues of research for therapeutic targeting of genome packaging and steps of viral assembly.</p>","PeriodicalId":133,"journal":{"name":"Biological Reviews","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":11.7,"publicationDate":"2026-05-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148025258","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"","authors":"","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":133,"journal":{"name":"Biological Reviews","volume":"101 3","pages":"1055-1058"},"PeriodicalIF":11.7,"publicationDate":"2026-05-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148068553","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"","authors":"","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":133,"journal":{"name":"Biological Reviews","volume":"101 3","pages":"1055-1058"},"PeriodicalIF":11.7,"publicationDate":"2026-05-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148068552","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Molecular bases of insect odorant receptor function: specificity and evolution.","authors":"Zibo Li, Abhinob Baruah, Sridevi Bhamidipati, Nicolas Montagné, Emmanuelle Jacquin-Joly, Camille Meslin","doi":"10.1002/brv.70114","DOIUrl":"10.1002/brv.70114","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Insect odorant receptors (ORs) are a class of chemoreceptors that insects use to detect volatile cues in their environment. In recent years, major advances in the field of structural biology have made it possible to obtain the first structures of insect ORs. In this review, we place molecular evidence of OR function into the context of their three-dimensional structure, focusing on both tuning ORs and their co-receptor, Orco, as well as their interaction. We also used AlphaFold2 to model the structures of several deorphanized receptors and mapped the experimentally identified residues important for function, revealing putative functional hotspots. We discuss several efficient methods for functional evolution studies and propose emerging technologies that may open avenues for further research and innovation.</p>","PeriodicalId":133,"journal":{"name":"Biological Reviews","volume":" ","pages":"1036-1049"},"PeriodicalIF":10.9,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12965853/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145808977","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The impact of urbanisation on social behaviour: a comprehensive review.","authors":"Avery L Maune, Barbara A Caspers, Isabel Damas-Moreira","doi":"10.1002/brv.70113","DOIUrl":"10.1002/brv.70113","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Urbanisation is a key driver of global environmental change and presents animals with novel stressors and challenges. It can fundamentally influence social behaviour and has the potential to reshape within- and between-species social interactions. Given the role of social behaviour in reproductive fitness and survival, understanding how social interactions change in response to urban conditions is crucial in addressing individual-, population-, and species-level responses to urbanisation, as well as the consequential ecological impacts. Here, we conducted the first systematic review addressing the impact of urbanisation on social systems and interspecific interactions. We synthesise the outcomes of the 227 studies from our literature search, organised across three key topics: (i) effects of urban stressors on social behaviour (N = 170), (ii) social system responses to urban environments (N = 75), and (iii) the impact of urbanisation on interspecific interactions (N = 12). Our review revealed that urbanisation is having a substantial impact on multiple facets of social behaviour, with 92% of studies finding a significant impact. We also identified several biases and gaps in the current literature. For example, 62% of all studies were conducted on birds, and 85% of studies testing urban stressors focused on anthropogenic noise. Given the diversity of animal social systems, there is obvious variation in social responses to urban conditions. However, we offer predictions for how social systems might change as urban environments continue to expand rapidly and suggest guidelines for future research to enhance generalisations across taxa. Our review brings together multiple areas of research, provides timely insights and outlines a framework for a unified and proactive approach to addressing social responses to urbanisation. This represents an essential foundation for anticipating species' responses to urban expansion and guiding effective conservation efforts.</p>","PeriodicalId":133,"journal":{"name":"Biological Reviews","volume":" ","pages":"1003-1035"},"PeriodicalIF":10.9,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12965859/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145848488","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Correction to \"New perspectives on body size and shape evolution in dinosaurs\".","authors":"","doi":"10.1002/brv.70118","DOIUrl":"10.1002/brv.70118","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":133,"journal":{"name":"Biological Reviews","volume":" ","pages":"1050-1053"},"PeriodicalIF":10.9,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13652160/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145831824","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Homo sapiens, industrialisation and the environmental mismatch hypothesis","authors":"Daniel P. Longman,&nbsp;Colin N. Shaw","doi":"10.1111/brv.70094","DOIUrl":"10.1111/brv.70094","url":null,"abstract":"<p>For the vast majority of the evolutionary history of <i>Homo sapiens</i>, a range of natural environments defined the parameters within which selection shaped human biology. Although human-induced alterations to the terrestrial biosphere have been evident for over 10,000 years, the pace and scale of change has accelerated dramatically since the onset of the Industrial Revolution in the late 18th century. Industrialisation has profoundly transformed our various natural habitats, driving rapid urban expansion, increasing reliance on fossil fuel energy and causing environmental contamination, ecosystem degradation and biodiversity loss. Today, most of the world's population resides in highly industrialised urban areas. These new primary human habitats differ fundamentally from our ancestral natural habitats, creating novel environmental challenges while, simultaneously, lacking key natural features linked to health and function. Although the adaptive capacity of humans has enabled survival in diverse and fluctuating environmental conditions, this capacity is limited. It is possible that the rapid industrialisation of our habitat is outpacing our adaptive capacity and is imposing selective pressures that threaten our evolutionary fitness. A growing body of observational and experimental evidence suggests that industrialisation negatively impacts key biological functions essential for survival and reproduction and, therefore, evolutionary fitness. Specifically, environmental contamination arising directly from industrial activities (e.g. air, noise and light pollution, microplastic accumulation) is linked to impaired reproductive, immune, cognitive and physical function. Chronic activation of the stress response systems, which further impairs these biological functions, also appears more pronounced in industrialised areas. Here, we consider whether the rapid and extensive environmental shifts of the Anthropocene have compromised the fitness of <i>Homo sapiens</i>. We begin by contrasting contemporary and ancestral human habitats before assessing the effects of these changes on core biological functions that underpin evolutionary fitness. We then ask whether industrialisation has created a mismatch between our primarily nature-adapted biology and the novel challenges imposed by contemporary industrialised environments – a possibility that we frame through the lens of the Environmental Mismatch Hypothesis. Finally, we explore experimental approaches to test this hypothesis and discuss the broader implications of such a mismatch.</p>","PeriodicalId":133,"journal":{"name":"Biological Reviews","volume":"101 2","pages":"580-601"},"PeriodicalIF":11.7,"publicationDate":"2026-03-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12965856/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145470340","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A century of theories of balancing selection","authors":"Filip Ruzicka,&nbsp;Martyna K. Zwoinska,&nbsp;Debora Goedert,&nbsp;Hanna Kokko,&nbsp;Xiang-Yi Li Richter,&nbsp;Iain R. Moodie,&nbsp;Sofie Nilén,&nbsp;Colin Olito,&nbsp;Erik I. Svensson,&nbsp;Peter Czuppon,&nbsp;Tim Connallon","doi":"10.1111/brv.70103","DOIUrl":"10.1111/brv.70103","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Traits that affect organismal fitness are often highly genetically variable. This genetic variation is vital for populations to adapt to their environments, but it is also surprising given that nature – after all – ‘selects’ the best genotypes at the expense of those that fall short. Explaining the extensive genetic variation of fitness-related traits is thus a longstanding puzzle in evolutionary biology, with cascading implications for ecology, conservation, and human health. Balancing selection – an umbrella term for scenarios in which natural selection maintains genetic variation – is a century-old explanation to resolve this puzzle that has gained recent momentum from genome-scale methods for detecting it. Yet evaluating whether balancing selection can, in fact, resolve the puzzle is challenging, given the logistical constraints of distinguishing balancing selection from alternative hypotheses and the daunting collection of theoretical models that formally underpin this debate. Here, we track the development of balancing selection theory over the last century and provide an accessible review of this rich collection of models. We first outline the range of biological scenarios that can generate balancing selection. We then examine how fundamental features of genetic systems – non-random mating between individuals, ploidy levels, genetic drift, linkage, and genetic architectures of traits – have been progressively incorporated into the theory. We end by linking these theoretical predictions to ongoing empirical efforts to understand the evolutionary processes that explain genetic variation.</p>","PeriodicalId":133,"journal":{"name":"Biological Reviews","volume":"101 2","pages":"804-825"},"PeriodicalIF":11.7,"publicationDate":"2026-03-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12965862/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145511287","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Biological effects of weak magnetic fields: can the radical-pair mechanism provide a universal explanation?","authors":"Viacheslav V. Krylov","doi":"10.1111/brv.70108","DOIUrl":"10.1111/brv.70108","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>The biological effects of weak magnetic fields have long been a subject of scientific inquiry, with increasing evidence supporting their influence on biochemical, physiological, and behavioural processes. This review describes three primary mechanisms of magnetoreception that have been identified in migrating animals: use of magnetite in sensitive cells, sensitive electroreceptors, and spin dynamics in cryptochrome radical pairs. It also critically examines the potential of the radical-pair mechanism to serve as a universal explanation for the diverse non-sensory biological effects of weak magnetic fields, including extremely low-frequency magnetic fields, static magnetic fields, and hypomagnetic conditions. Understanding how weak magnetic fields influence radical-pair processes could revolutionize our approach to bioelectromagnetic interactions and provide new avenues for development of medical and technological applications. Future research should focus on direct real-time monitoring of radical-pair-mediated biochemical reactions, evaluating the interplay between magnetic fields, light exposure, and temperature, and refining theoretical models to bridge the gap between quantum-scale interactions and macroscopic biological effects. Addressing these questions will be essential in determining whether the radical-pair mechanism can serve as a unifying principle in magnetobiology.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":133,"journal":{"name":"Biological Reviews","volume":"101 2","pages":"893-910"},"PeriodicalIF":11.7,"publicationDate":"2026-03-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145659803","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}