Molecules and CellsPub Date : 2026-01-01Epub Date: 2025-11-26DOI: 10.1016/j.mocell.2025.100301
Seok Chan Cho, Hyun Woo Park
{"title":"Methods for detecting protein-protein interactions","authors":"Seok Chan Cho, Hyun Woo Park","doi":"10.1016/j.mocell.2025.100301","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.mocell.2025.100301","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Protein-protein interaction (PPI) is central to all cellular processes and play critical roles in both normal physiology and disease pathogenesis. In this brief guide, we outline the fundamental principles and widely used methods for PPI detection, focusing on 3 key techniques: immunoprecipitation, in vitro pull-down assays, and proximity ligation assay. We also discuss common experimental challenges and provide practical optimization strategies to improve reliability and reproducibility. This resource is designed to aid researchers in molecular and cellular biology, signal transduction, and animal model studies with essential knowledge for selecting and applying PPI detection methods.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18795,"journal":{"name":"Molecules and Cells","volume":"49 1","pages":"Article 100301"},"PeriodicalIF":6.5,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145636128","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Molecules and CellsPub Date : 2026-01-01Epub Date: 2025-12-11DOI: 10.1016/j.mocell.2025.100302
Jiwon Choi , Geert De Jaeger , Hoo Sun Chung
{"title":"Cellular dynamics and molecular signaling networks of plant cytokinesis","authors":"Jiwon Choi , Geert De Jaeger , Hoo Sun Chung","doi":"10.1016/j.mocell.2025.100302","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.mocell.2025.100302","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Cytokinesis, the final stage of cell division, physically partitions the cytoplasm between daughter cells through mechanisms evolved to accommodate unique cellular constraints. Plant cells divide by the formation of rigid cell walls using the phragmoplast—a specialized structure guiding centrifugal cell plate formation from the cell center outward. Despite structural differences from the animal contractile ring mechanism, plant and animal cytokinesis share fundamental similarities in division plane determination, vesicle trafficking, and conserved proteins, including kinesins and microtubule-associated proteins. This conservation alongside kingdom-specific adaptations makes plant cytokinesis an excellent model for understanding evolutionary divergence. Recent technological advances have enabled detailed characterization of molecular components and regulatory networks controlling spatiotemporal progression through post translational modifications. In this review, we provide an integrated perspective of plant cytokinesis, examining cellular dynamics from division plane determination to cell plate maturation, molecular machinery driving these processes, and kinase-mediated regulatory networks ensuring precise coordination of this complex process.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18795,"journal":{"name":"Molecules and Cells","volume":"49 1","pages":"Article 100302"},"PeriodicalIF":6.5,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145743384","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Molecules and CellsPub Date : 2026-01-01Epub Date: 2025-12-11DOI: 10.1016/j.mocell.2025.100308
Dajeong Bong , Hyunwoo C. Kwon , Seung-Jae V. Lee
{"title":"Multilayered regulation of longevity in Caenorhabditis elegans","authors":"Dajeong Bong , Hyunwoo C. Kwon , Seung-Jae V. Lee","doi":"10.1016/j.mocell.2025.100308","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.mocell.2025.100308","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Aging in <em>Caenorhabditis elegans</em> is regulated by evolutionarily conserved pathways that coordinate cellular maintenance and systemic homeostasis. Here, we review recent advances on four major longevity regimens, including reduced insulin/insulin-like growth factor 1 signaling (IIS), dietary restriction (DR), mild inhibition of mitochondrial respiration, and germline deficiency. Each longevity-promoting regimen enhances protein and RNA quality control, metabolic remodeling, and stress resistance to delay functional declines with age. Reduced IIS strengthens proteostasis and RNA surveillance. DR remodels metabolism and activates autophagy. Mild mitochondrial inhibition elicits adaptive redox signaling and quality control responses. Germline deficiency links reproductive cues to somatic maintenance. We highlight that longevity arises from the integrated regulation of transcriptional, metabolic, and inter-tissue signaling networks. Our review will provide valuable insights obtained from <em>C. elegans</em> into the conserved mechanisms of aging, facilitating the development of interventions that promote healthy longevity in humans.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18795,"journal":{"name":"Molecules and Cells","volume":"49 1","pages":"Article 100308"},"PeriodicalIF":6.5,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145752020","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Molecules and CellsPub Date : 2026-01-01Epub Date: 2026-01-07DOI: 10.1016/S1016-8478(26)00005-1
{"title":"Cover and caption","authors":"","doi":"10.1016/S1016-8478(26)00005-1","DOIUrl":"10.1016/S1016-8478(26)00005-1","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":18795,"journal":{"name":"Molecules and Cells","volume":"49 1","pages":"Article 100314"},"PeriodicalIF":6.5,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145925458","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Molecules and CellsPub Date : 2026-01-01Epub Date: 2025-11-18DOI: 10.1016/j.mocell.2025.100300
Xinyu Pan , Hui Zhang , Weiwen Huang , Wenbin Ma , Zhou Songyang , Yuanyan Xiong
{"title":"RE-Aging: A functional analysis platform for human RNA editing associated with aging","authors":"Xinyu Pan , Hui Zhang , Weiwen Huang , Wenbin Ma , Zhou Songyang , Yuanyan Xiong","doi":"10.1016/j.mocell.2025.100300","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.mocell.2025.100300","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>RNA editing alters mRNA sequences and is linked to aging. We introduce RE-Aging, a platform analyzing age-related RNA editing using GTEx data (259,620 A-to-I and 30,502 C-to-U sites across 27 tissues). Features include site exploration, age correlations, gene annotation, RNA structure analysis, and miRNA binding impact. Supports differential editing analysis (Wilcoxon test) and single-cell RNA editing age mapping for blood cells. Access at <span><span>http://bioinfo-sysu.com/RE-Aging/</span><svg><path></path></svg></span>.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18795,"journal":{"name":"Molecules and Cells","volume":"49 1","pages":"Article 100300"},"PeriodicalIF":6.5,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145564673","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Molecules and CellsPub Date : 2026-01-01Epub Date: 2025-12-02DOI: 10.1016/j.mocell.2025.100303
Shinae Park, Kyungmin Lee, Junsoo Oh, Jung-Shin Lee
{"title":"Set1-dependent H3K4 methylation is essential for sustained gene expression at newly activated loci","authors":"Shinae Park, Kyungmin Lee, Junsoo Oh, Jung-Shin Lee","doi":"10.1016/j.mocell.2025.100303","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.mocell.2025.100303","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Histone H3 lysine 4 trimethylation (H3K4me3) has been associated with active transcription, yet whether it plays a causative role in gene activation remains an open question. In this study, we reveal that the deletion of Paf1 complex subunit Leo1 in <em>Saccharomyces cerevisiae</em> induces robust transcriptional activation at a subset of genes, particularly those involved in sterol transport, without altering global H3K4me3 levels. These induced genes acquire de novo H3K4me3 at promoter-proximal regions, and this transcriptional induction is entirely dependent on Set1, the sole methyltransferase responsible for H3K4me3. Strikingly, loss of Set1 abolishes expression of these genes, even in the presence of previously established H3K4me3, and their expression is fully restored upon Set1 reintroduction. These effects are specific to Leo1 deficiency and not observed in other Paf1C mutants. Furthermore, Set1-dependent gene activation enhances sterol uptake, underscoring its physiological relevance. Our findings provide direct in vivo evidence that Set1-catalyzed H3K4me3 is not merely a transcriptional correlate, but a context-dependent driver of gene expression.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18795,"journal":{"name":"Molecules and Cells","volume":"49 1","pages":"Article 100303"},"PeriodicalIF":6.5,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145677873","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Molecules and CellsPub Date : 2025-12-01Epub Date: 2025-12-05DOI: 10.1016/S1016-8478(25)00128-1
{"title":"Cover and caption","authors":"","doi":"10.1016/S1016-8478(25)00128-1","DOIUrl":"10.1016/S1016-8478(25)00128-1","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":18795,"journal":{"name":"Molecules and Cells","volume":"48 12","pages":"Article 100304"},"PeriodicalIF":6.5,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145690342","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Molecules and CellsPub Date : 2025-12-01Epub Date: 2025-11-03DOI: 10.1016/j.mocell.2025.100296
Ravi Shankar Goutam , Neha Kaushik , Basant Kumar , Woochan Jung , Santosh Kumar , Seung-Hwan Lee , Unjoo Lee , Jaebong Kim
{"title":"Multifaceted role of Iroquois signaling in development and diseases","authors":"Ravi Shankar Goutam , Neha Kaushik , Basant Kumar , Woochan Jung , Santosh Kumar , Seung-Hwan Lee , Unjoo Lee , Jaebong Kim","doi":"10.1016/j.mocell.2025.100296","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.mocell.2025.100296","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The Iroquois (<em>Iro/Irx</em>) gene family encodes transcription factors that belong to the Three-Amino-Acid Loop Extension-class homeodomain group, distinguished by a conserved Iro-box domain. Iroquois signaling is evolutionarily conserved from invertebrates to vertebrates and plays a vital role in embryonic development. In invertebrates, <em>Iro/Irx</em> genes control tissue compartmentalization, whereas in vertebrates, they regulate gastrulation, neural patterning, and organogenesis. These genes are typically organized in conserved genomic clusters under shared regulatory control, reflecting their coordinated expression and common evolutionary origins. Beyond development, dysregulation of Iroquois genes has been implicated in diverse human diseases. <em>Iro/Irx</em> genes are increasingly associated with congenital disorders, including congenital heart disease and neurodevelopmental abnormalities. Moreover, their emerging role in cancer biology has revealed context-dependent behavior, functioning as either tumor suppressors or oncogenes. Recent findings have also highlighted their potential as clinical biomarkers in neurological and neoplastic diseases. Given their broad developmental and pathological roles, Iroquois genes are gaining recognition as promising candidates for therapeutic targeting and molecular diagnostics. This review integrates their developmental functions with their disease associations to provide a comprehensive overview of the biological and clinical significance of Iroquois signaling.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18795,"journal":{"name":"Molecules and Cells","volume":"48 12","pages":"Article 100296"},"PeriodicalIF":6.5,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145452210","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}