{"title":"Understanding the machinery that reads the genome","authors":"Carrie Bernecky","doi":"10.1038/s41580-025-00844-1","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1038/s41580-025-00844-1","url":null,"abstract":"Carrie Bernecky describes why the first solved structure of RNA polymerase II was important for transcription researchers, structural biologists, and beyond.","PeriodicalId":19051,"journal":{"name":"Nature Reviews Molecular Cell Biology","volume":"183 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":112.7,"publicationDate":"2025-03-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143733935","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":"Mechanisms of COPII coat assembly and cargo recognition in the secretory pathway","authors":"Katie W. Downes, Giulia Zanetti","doi":"10.1038/s41580-025-00839-y","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1038/s41580-025-00839-y","url":null,"abstract":"<p>One third of all proteins in eukaryotes transit between the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and the Golgi to reach their functional destination inside or outside of the cell. During export, secretory proteins concentrate at transitional zones of the ER known as ER exit sites, where they are packaged into transport carriers formed by the highly conserved coat protein complex II (COPII). Despite long-standing knowledge of many of the fundamental pathways that govern traffic in the early secretory pathway, we still lack a complete mechanistic model to explain how the various steps of COPII-mediated ER exit are regulated to efficiently transport diverse cargoes. In this Review, we discuss the current understanding of the mechanisms underlying COPII-mediated vesicular transport, highlighting outstanding knowledge gaps. We focus on how coat assembly and disassembly dictate carrier morphogenesis, how COPII selectively recruits a vast number of cargo and cargo adaptors, and finally discuss how COPII mechanisms in mammals might have adapted to enable transport of large proteins.</p>","PeriodicalId":19051,"journal":{"name":"Nature Reviews Molecular Cell Biology","volume":"57 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":112.7,"publicationDate":"2025-03-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143695628","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":"Mechanisms and regulation of DNA end resection in the maintenance of genome stability","authors":"Raphael Ceccaldi, Petr Cejka","doi":"10.1038/s41580-025-00841-4","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1038/s41580-025-00841-4","url":null,"abstract":"<p>DNA end resection is a crucial early step in most DNA double-strand break (DSB) repair pathways. Resection involves the nucleolytic degradation of 5′ ends at DSB sites to generate 3′ single-stranded DNA overhangs. The first, short-range resection step is catalysed by the nuclease MRE11, acting as part of the MRE11–RAD50–NBS1 complex. Subsequent long-range resection is catalysed by the nucleases EXO1 and/or DNA2. Resected DNA is necessary for homology search and the priming of DNA synthesis in homologous recombination. DNA overhangs may also mediate DNA annealing in the microhomology-mediated end-joining and single-strand annealing pathways, and activate the DNA damage response. By contrast, DNA end resection inhibits DSB repair by non-homologous end-joining. In this Review, we discuss the importance of DNA end resection in various DSB repair pathways, the molecular mechanisms of end resection and its regulation, focusing on phosphorylation and other post-translational modifications that control resection throughout the cell cycle and in response to DNA damage.</p>","PeriodicalId":19051,"journal":{"name":"Nature Reviews Molecular Cell Biology","volume":"71 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":112.7,"publicationDate":"2025-03-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143695629","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":"Mechanistic insights into gasdermin-mediated pyroptosis","authors":"Yang Bai, Youdong Pan, Xing Liu","doi":"10.1038/s41580-025-00837-0","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1038/s41580-025-00837-0","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Pyroptosis, a novel mode of inflammatory cell death, is executed by membrane pore-forming gasdermin (GSDM) family members in response to extracellular or intracellular injury cues and is characterized by a ballooning cell morphology, plasma membrane rupture and the release of inflammatory mediators such as interleukin-1β (IL-1β), IL-18 and high mobility group protein B1 (HMGB1). It is a key effector mechanism for host immune defence and surveillance against invading pathogens and aberrant cancerous cells, and contributes to the onset and pathogenesis of inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. Manipulating the pore-forming activity of GSDMs and pyroptosis could lead to novel therapeutic strategies. In this Review, we discuss the current knowledge regarding how GSDM-mediated pyroptosis is initiated, executed and regulated, its roles in physiological and pathological processes, and the crosstalk between different modes of programmed cell death. We also highlight the development of drugs that target pyroptotic pathways for disease treatment.</p>","PeriodicalId":19051,"journal":{"name":"Nature Reviews Molecular Cell Biology","volume":"16 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":112.7,"publicationDate":"2025-03-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143677649","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":"Nuclear and genome dynamics underlying DNA double-strand break repair","authors":"Irene Chiolo, Matthias Altmeyer, Gaëlle Legube, Karim Mekhail","doi":"10.1038/s41580-025-00828-1","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1038/s41580-025-00828-1","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Changes in nuclear shape and in the spatial organization of chromosomes in the nucleus commonly occur in cancer, ageing and other clinical contexts that are characterized by increased DNA damage. However, the relationship between nuclear architecture, genome organization, chromosome stability and health remains poorly defined. Studies exploring the connections between the positioning and mobility of damaged DNA relative to various nuclear structures and genomic loci have revealed nuclear and cytoplasmic processes that affect chromosome stability. In this Review, we discuss the dynamic mechanisms that regulate nuclear and genome organization to promote DNA double-strand break (DSB) repair, genome stability and cell survival. Genome dynamics that support DSB repair rely on chromatin states, repair-protein condensates, nuclear or cytoplasmic microtubules and actin filaments, kinesin or myosin motor proteins, the nuclear envelope, various nuclear compartments, chromosome topology, chromatin loop extrusion and diverse signalling cues. These processes are commonly altered in cancer and during natural or premature ageing. Indeed, the reshaping of the genome in nuclear space during DSB repair points to new avenues for therapeutic interventions that may take advantage of new cancer cell vulnerabilities or aim to reverse age-associated defects.</p>","PeriodicalId":19051,"journal":{"name":"Nature Reviews Molecular Cell Biology","volume":"17 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":112.7,"publicationDate":"2025-03-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143640384","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":"Modes of Notch signalling in development and disease","authors":"Sarah J. Bray, Anna Bigas","doi":"10.1038/s41580-025-00835-2","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1038/s41580-025-00835-2","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Many different animal developmental and homeostatic processes rely on signalling via the highly conserved Notch pathway. Often Notch signalling has iterative roles during cell specification and differentiation, controlling not only the state of progenitor cells but also the fate and function of their progeny. Its roles continue throughout the lifespan of the organism, regulating normal tissue maintenance, as well as operating in response to damage. Consistent with such fundamental roles, the pathway has been associated with numerous diseases, including cancers. Understanding how Notch signalling is orchestrated to bring about different outcomes is challenging, given that it has many diverse functions. Classic models proposed that stochastic differences in cell states were important to polarise signalling during cell fate decisions. Subsequently, the importance of oscillatory Notch signalling was uncovered, and it became clear that it operates in different modalities depending on the regulatory inputs. With the advent of ever-more-sensitive live-imaging and quantitative approaches, it is becoming evident that differences in the dynamics, levels and architectures of Notch signalling are critical in shaping and maintaining tissues. This Review focuses on the cellular and molecular mechanisms involved in conferring different modalities on Notch pathway operations and how these enable different types of functional outcomes from pathway activation. We also discuss their dysregulation in cancer.</p>","PeriodicalId":19051,"journal":{"name":"Nature Reviews Molecular Cell Biology","volume":"15 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":112.7,"publicationDate":"2025-03-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143582963","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":"CRISPR–Cas applications in agriculture and plant research","authors":"Aytug Tuncel, Changtian Pan, Joshua S. Clem, Degao Liu, Yiping Qi","doi":"10.1038/s41580-025-00834-3","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1038/s41580-025-00834-3","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Growing world population and deteriorating climate conditions necessitate the development of new crops with high yields and resilience. CRISPR–Cas-mediated genome engineering presents unparalleled opportunities to engineer crop varieties cheaper, easier and faster than ever. In this Review, we discuss how the CRISPR–Cas toolbox has rapidly expanded from Cas9 and Cas12 to include different Cas orthologues and engineered variants. We present various CRISPR–Cas-based methods, including base editing and prime editing, which are used for precise genome, epigenome and transcriptome engineering, and methods used to deliver the genome editors into plants, such as bacterial-mediated and viral-mediated transformation. We then discuss how promoter editing and chromosome engineering are used in crop breeding for trait engineering and fixation, and important applications of CRISPR–Cas in crop improvement, such as de novo domestication and enhancing tolerance to abiotic stresses. We conclude with discussing future prospects of plant genome engineering.</p>","PeriodicalId":19051,"journal":{"name":"Nature Reviews Molecular Cell Biology","volume":"49 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":112.7,"publicationDate":"2025-03-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143569572","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":"Dodging mitochondrial mislocalization","authors":"Lisa Heinke","doi":"10.1038/s41580-025-00840-5","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s41580-025-00840-5","url":null,"abstract":"Subunits of mitochondrial and cytosolic ribosomes need to be targeted to their correction cellular location. A study identified a mitochondrial avoidance segment in a eukaryotic cytosolic ribosome subunit that prevents its mislocalization to mitochondria.","PeriodicalId":19051,"journal":{"name":"Nature Reviews Molecular Cell Biology","volume":"26 4","pages":"253-253"},"PeriodicalIF":81.3,"publicationDate":"2025-03-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143560754","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}