{"title":"Charting meiotic recombination through the discovery of PRDM9.","authors":"Florencia Pratto","doi":"10.1038/s41580-026-01020-9","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1038/s41580-026-01020-9","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":19051,"journal":{"name":"Nature Reviews Molecular Cell Biology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":118.0,"publicationDate":"2026-08-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148851094","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}
Carsten Janke, Anna Akhmanova, Francesca Bartolini, Satish Bodakuntla, Filippo Del Bene, Virginie Hamel, Timothy J. Mitchison, Thomas Müller-Reichert, François Nédélec, Eva Nogales, Gaia Pigino, Antonina Roll-Mecak, Giampietro Schiavo, Thomas Surrey, Zdenek Lansky
{"title":"Towards a systems-level view of the microtubule cytoskeleton and its functions in physiology and disease","authors":"Carsten Janke, Anna Akhmanova, Francesca Bartolini, Satish Bodakuntla, Filippo Del Bene, Virginie Hamel, Timothy J. Mitchison, Thomas Müller-Reichert, François Nédélec, Eva Nogales, Gaia Pigino, Antonina Roll-Mecak, Giampietro Schiavo, Thomas Surrey, Zdenek Lansky","doi":"10.1038/s41580-026-01011-w","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s41580-026-01011-w","url":null,"abstract":"Microtubules are well-researched components of the cytoskeleton, yet we lack a holistic understanding that bridges molecular and cellular details with the broader functions of the microtubule cytoskeleton in development, ageing and disease. For example, how microtubule properties and functions are affected by tubulin post-translational modifications, disease-related mutations or variation of the microtubule lattice remains unexplored. In this Roadmap, we argue that integrating various experimental and theoretical approaches to bridge different spatial and temporal scales will offer new opportunities for gaining insights into essential cellular mechanisms and physiology, eventually revealing how microtubule dysfunction can lead to a broad spectrum of human diseases. Built on the current state of the art in the microtubule field, our Roadmap highlights future opportunities and challenges and proposes ways to tackle them. Given the many fundamental questions remaining to be answered, the microtubule cytoskeleton will continue to inspire scientists as it has been doing for decades. Microtubules are essential components of the cytoskeleton, yet important links between their molecular properties and organismal functions remain unresolved. In this Roadmap, Janke et al. discuss key challenges, emerging opportunities and integrative approaches to connect microtubule regulation with physiology, ageing and disease.","PeriodicalId":19051,"journal":{"name":"Nature Reviews Molecular Cell Biology","volume":"27 11","pages":"855-873"},"PeriodicalIF":118.0,"publicationDate":"2026-08-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148840723","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 balanced regulation of plant immunity","authors":"Jijie Chai, Yuanchao Wang, Yan Wang","doi":"10.1038/s41580-026-01009-4","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s41580-026-01009-4","url":null,"abstract":"Plants have evolved sophisticated immune systems to defend against a wide array of pathogens. These defence mechanisms are primarily mediated by cell surface pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) and intracellular nucleotide-binding leucine-rich repeat receptors (NLRs). Recent studies indicate that immune signalling involving PRRs and NLRs converges on cytosolic calcium (Ca2+) and other signals, which act synergistically to mount robust plant defences. However, uncontrolled activation of these defence mechanisms often negatively affects plant growth. In this Review, we discuss recent findings on the signalling mechanisms of PRRs and NLRs, including microbial recognition, receptor activation and signal transduction, as well as mechanisms that mitigate the negative impact on plant fitness associated with growth–defence trade-offs. We also discuss the interplay between the immune system and environmental stresses and explore strategies for engineering disease-resistant plants with optimized fitness. This Review discusses recent insights into the mechanisms of immune signalling in plants and their regulation to achieve effective defence against pathogens while preserving plant fitness. It also explores the interplay between the immune system and environmental stresses, and strategies for engineering optimal disease-resistant plants.","PeriodicalId":19051,"journal":{"name":"Nature Reviews Molecular Cell Biology","volume":"27 11","pages":"803-820"},"PeriodicalIF":118.0,"publicationDate":"2026-08-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148840750","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":"Not just for splicing - intronless mRNAs reveal role of nuclear speckles in nuclear export.","authors":"Katherine Alexander","doi":"10.1038/s41580-026-01024-5","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1038/s41580-026-01024-5","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":19051,"journal":{"name":"Nature Reviews Molecular Cell Biology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":118.0,"publicationDate":"2026-08-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148830760","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":"The use of homology-directed repair in a complex landscape of genome editors.","authors":"Eric J Aird, Jacob E Corn","doi":"10.1038/s41580-026-01018-3","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1038/s41580-026-01018-3","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":19051,"journal":{"name":"Nature Reviews Molecular Cell Biology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":118.0,"publicationDate":"2026-08-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148813591","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":"Regulation and roles of mammalian mitophagy","authors":"Sascha Martens, Ian G. Ganley","doi":"10.1038/s41580-026-01012-9","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s41580-026-01012-9","url":null,"abstract":"Mitochondria are essential metabolic and signalling hubs exposed to stress, and mitochondrial damage is highly detrimental to the cell. Mitophagy — the autophagy of mitochondria — is a key mechanism that maintains both mitochondrial integrity and metabolic flexibility. Mitophagy occurs via multiple pathways that either involve activation of PTEN-induced kinase 1 (PINK1) and the E3 ubiquitin-protein ligase Parkin, or are independent of PINK1 and Parkin. Recessive mutations in PINK1 and PKRN (the gene that encodes Parkin) cause early-onset Parkinson’s disease and have provided key mechanistic insights into mitophagy. However, emerging findings indicate that mitophagy is also executed by other molecular routes. Despite these molecular advances in mitophagy characterization, the physiological roles of these pathways in mammals and the specific contexts or conditions in which they operate remain poorly defined. This Review summarizes current understanding of PINK1–Parkin-dependent and independent mitophagy pathways, highlighting mechanistic distinctions and coordinated regulation. We also examine physiological and pathological triggers of mitophagy, as well as the expanding therapeutic potential of targeting mitophagy in disease. Mitophagy contributes to cellular homeostasis through the recycling of damaged mitochondria and precise control of mitochondrial numbers. In this Review, Martens and Ganley summarize the molecular mechanisms involved in mitophagy pathways, mitophagy regulation and roles in disease.","PeriodicalId":19051,"journal":{"name":"Nature Reviews Molecular Cell Biology","volume":"27 11","pages":"821-838"},"PeriodicalIF":118.0,"publicationDate":"2026-08-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148759653","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":"Shaping the anticipatory governance of synthetic cell research","authors":"Li Du","doi":"10.1038/s41580-026-01015-6","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s41580-026-01015-6","url":null,"abstract":"Synthetic cell research is an artificial intelligence (AI)-driven global endeavour that is outpacing conventional regulatory frameworks. Here, I argue for anticipatory governance that integrates ethics review, trustworthy AI policies and cross-border cooperation. There is an opportunity for the USA and China to co-lead international collaboration for responsible SynCell innovation. Li Du advocates for stronger legal frameworks and an interdisciplinary, international approach to governing synthetic cell research.","PeriodicalId":19051,"journal":{"name":"Nature Reviews Molecular Cell Biology","volume":"27 11","pages":"795-796"},"PeriodicalIF":118.0,"publicationDate":"2026-08-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148727458","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}