Rosa Haque , Aysenur Deniz Song , Jongsun Lee , Seung-Jae V. Lee , Jae Myoung Suh
{"title":"Essential resources and best practices for laboratory mouse research","authors":"Rosa Haque , Aysenur Deniz Song , Jongsun Lee , Seung-Jae V. Lee , Jae Myoung Suh","doi":"10.1016/j.mocell.2025.100178","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.mocell.2025.100178","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The laboratory mouse (<em>Mus musculus</em>) is the most widely used mammalian model organism in biomedical and life science research. This concise guide aims to provide essential information to assist researchers new to working with mice, covering topics such as mouse husbandry, maintenance, and available resources for obtaining mouse strains and associated data. Additionally, we discuss ethical considerations, emphasizing the 3Rs (replacement, reduction, and refinement) to ensure responsible and humane research practices.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18795,"journal":{"name":"Molecules and Cells","volume":"48 2","pages":"Article 100178"},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2025-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142951631","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Cover and caption","authors":"","doi":"10.1016/S1016-8478(25)00018-4","DOIUrl":"10.1016/S1016-8478(25)00018-4","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":18795,"journal":{"name":"Molecules and Cells","volume":"48 2","pages":"Article 100194"},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2025-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143387046","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Jeongeun Kim , Su-Jin Kang , Nayoon Jo , Seung-Jin Kim , Sunbok Jang
{"title":"Cancer prognosis using base excision repair genes","authors":"Jeongeun Kim , Su-Jin Kang , Nayoon Jo , Seung-Jin Kim , Sunbok Jang","doi":"10.1016/j.mocell.2025.100186","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.mocell.2025.100186","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The base excision repair (BER) pathway is a critical mechanism in genomic stability. This review investigates the role of the BER pathway in advanced cancer therapies considering the pivotal role of genetic factors in cancer patient responses and prognosis. BER factors significantly influence genetic instability and cancer prognosis, as well as the effectiveness of chemotherapy and radiation therapy. In various cancers such as breast, colon, lung, and bladder, BER factors have shown potential as critical biological markers for predicting cancer outcomes. This study focuses on the polymorphisms and expression levels of key BER genes, including OGG1, XRCC1, APE1, and Polβ. Our findings demonstrate that the expression levels of BER genes and proteins are closely associated with the risk, progression, treatment response, and prognosis of various cancers. These insights could improve cancer treatments and aid in the development of drugs targeting BER proteins. Ongoing research in this field requires extensive statistical analyses and large-scale prospective studies to effectively utilize BER protein levels. Ultimately, these results suggest that the BER pathway represents a potential target for cancer diagnosis, prognostic prediction, and the development of personalized therapeutic strategies. This paves the way for effective cancer treatment in the future.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18795,"journal":{"name":"Molecules and Cells","volume":"48 2","pages":"Article 100186"},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2025-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143008576","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Single-molecule imaging for investigating the transcriptional control","authors":"Insung Choi , Inwha Baek","doi":"10.1016/j.mocell.2025.100179","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.mocell.2025.100179","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Transcription is an essential biological process involving numerous factors, including transcription factors (TFs), which play a central role in this process by binding to their cognate DNA motifs. Although cells must tightly regulate the kinetics of factor association and dissociation during transcription, factor dynamics during transcription remain poorly characterized, primarily because of the reliance on ensemble experiments that average out molecular heterogeneity. Recent advances in single-molecule fluorescence imaging techniques have enabled the exploration of TF dynamics at unprecedented resolution. Findings on the temporal dynamics of individual TFs have challenged classical models and provided new insights into transcriptional regulation. Single-molecule imaging has also elucidated the assembly kinetics of transcription complexes. In this review, we describe the single-molecule fluorescence imaging methods widely used to determine factor dynamics during transcription. We highlight new findings on TF binding to chromatin, TF target search, and the assembly order of transcription complexes. Additionally, we discuss the remaining challenges in achieving a comprehensive understanding of the temporal regulation of transcription.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18795,"journal":{"name":"Molecules and Cells","volume":"48 2","pages":"Article 100179"},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2025-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143008580","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Human γδ T cells in the tumor microenvironment: Key insights for advancing cancer immunotherapy","authors":"Won Hyung Park , Heung Kyu Lee","doi":"10.1016/j.mocell.2025.100177","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.mocell.2025.100177","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The role of γδ T cells in antitumor responses has gained significant attention due to their major histocompatibility complex (MHC)-independent killing mechanisms, which are functionally distinct from conventional αβ T cells. Notably, γδ tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) have been identified as favorable prognostic markers in various cancers. However, the γδ TIL subsets, including Vδ1, Vδ2, and Vδ3, exhibit distinct prognostic implications and phenotypes within the tumor microenvironment (TME). Although the underlying mechanisms remain unclear, recent studies suggest that these subset-specific differences may arise from divergent activation pathways. Vδ1 TILs appear to be mainly activated by γδ T-cell receptor (TCR) signaling, whereas Vδ2 TILs seem to rely on alternative pathways, such as natural killer (NK) receptor-mediated activation. In addition to phenotypic studies, cancer immunotherapies, such as engineered γδ T cells, γδ T-cell engagers, and γδ TCR–based therapies, are under active development. However, despite these advancements, functional heterogeneity and limited persistence within TME remain significant challenges. Overcoming these obstacles could position γδ T-cell therapies as a transformative platform for cancer treatment. Here, we review recent findings on the prognostic significance of human γδ T cells, their phenotypic characteristics, and advances in γδ T-cell therapies, offering valuable insights for the development of novel cancer immunotherapies.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18795,"journal":{"name":"Molecules and Cells","volume":"48 2","pages":"Article 100177"},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2025-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142951619","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Guidelines for plasma membrane protein detection by surface biotinylation","authors":"Jae Won Roh , Hye Won Choi , Heon Yung Gee","doi":"10.1016/j.mocell.2024.100174","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.mocell.2024.100174","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Plasma membrane proteins are crucial for signal transduction, trafficking, and cell-cell interactions, all of which are vital for cell survival. These proteins, including G-protein coupled receptors, ion channels, transporters, and receptors, are key drug targets due to their central role in receiving and amplifying cellular signals. However, the isolation and purification of plasma membrane proteins pose significant challenges because of their integration with phospholipid bilayers and the small fraction of these proteins present in the plasma membrane. Biotinylation, in combination with streptavidin beads, provides an effective method for surface protein analysis by specifically labeling surface proteins without penetrating the cell membrane, enabling precise isolation and analysis with minimal contamination. In this study, we describe a 1-step method for analyzing plasma membrane proteins that can be routinely implemented in many laboratories.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18795,"journal":{"name":"Molecules and Cells","volume":"48 2","pages":"Article 100174"},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2025-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142907274","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Gyuho Choi , Yerim Cha , Tae-Jin Kim , Gah-Hyun Lim
{"title":"Optimization of FRET imaging in Arabidopsis protoplasts","authors":"Gyuho Choi , Yerim Cha , Tae-Jin Kim , Gah-Hyun Lim","doi":"10.1016/j.mocell.2025.100180","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.mocell.2025.100180","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Recent advancements in fluorescence-based biosensor technologies have enabled more precise and accurate Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) imaging within <em>Agrobacterium</em>-mediated plant transformation systems. However, the application of FRET imaging in plant tissues remains hindered by significant challenges, particularly the time-intensive process of generating transgenic lines and the complications arising from tissue autofluorescence. In contrast, protoplast-based FRET imaging offers a rapid and efficient platform for functional screening and analysis, making it an essential tool for plant research. Nevertheless, conventional protoplast-based FRET approaches are often limited by background interference, inconsistent imaging conditions, and difficulties in quantitative analysis. Here, we present a systematic optimization of imaging conditions using the calcium biosensor D3cpv, addressing these limitations to improve both precision and efficiency in protoplast-based FRET imaging. This work serves as a practical guide for streamlining FRET imaging workflows and maximizing the utility of biosensors in plant cell studies.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18795,"journal":{"name":"Molecules and Cells","volume":"48 3","pages":"Article 100180"},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2025-01-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142971556","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Won Hee Ko , Sangil Kim , Alix Catry , Je-Yoel Cho , Seunggwan Shin
{"title":"Genome-wide statistical evidence elucidates candidate factors of life expectancy in dogs","authors":"Won Hee Ko , Sangil Kim , Alix Catry , Je-Yoel Cho , Seunggwan Shin","doi":"10.1016/j.mocell.2024.100162","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.mocell.2024.100162","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>It is well-established that large and heavy dogs tend to live shorter lives. In this study, we aimed to determine whether traits other than body size are associated with the life expectancy of dogs. We compiled a dataset of 20 phenotypes, including body size, lifespan, snout ratio, and shedding, into a single matrix for 149 dog breeds using data from the American Kennel Club and other peer-reviewed sources. The analysis revealed that drooling might be associated with both the lifespan and body mass index of dogs. Furthermore, a genome-wide association study with adjusted phenotypes and statistical verification methods, such as Mendelian randomization. Additionally, conducting differential gene expression analysis with the salivary gland for the 2 cases, hypersalivation/less drooling vs various body sizes, we could observe the hypersalivation-related proteins. This genetic analysis suggests that body size and drooling might be candidate factors influencing lifespan. Consequently, we identified several candidate genes, including <em>IGSF1</em>, <em>PACSIN2</em>, <em>PIK3R1</em>, and <em>MCCC2</em>, as potential genetic factors influencing longevity-related phenotypes.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18795,"journal":{"name":"Molecules and Cells","volume":"48 1","pages":"Article 100162"},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11721540/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142695716","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Cover and caption","authors":"","doi":"10.1016/S1016-8478(25)00005-6","DOIUrl":"10.1016/S1016-8478(25)00005-6","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":18795,"journal":{"name":"Molecules and Cells","volume":"48 1","pages":"Article 100181"},"PeriodicalIF":3.7,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143147150","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}