{"title":"E3 ubiquitin ligases in signaling, disease, and therapeutics.","authors":"Pirouz Ebadi, Caleb M Stratton, Shaun K Olsen","doi":"10.1016/j.tibs.2025.07.009","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.tibs.2025.07.009","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS) is a central regulator of protein turnover and signaling, with E3 ubiquitin ligases conferring substrate specificity and chain-type control. Recent advances have revealed new mechanistic classes of E3 ligases and expanded our understanding of their roles in disease, including cancer, neurodegeneration, and immune dysfunction. These insights have fueled the development of targeted protein degradation strategies that harness the UPS to eliminate disease-associated proteins. Approaches such as proteolysis-targeting chimeras (PROTACs), molecular glues, and antibody-based degraders are broadening the druggable proteome. Despite this progress, key challenges remain, including limited E3 ligase diversity, difficulties in degrader delivery, and resistance mechanisms. This review outlines recent advances in E3 ligase biology and therapeutic degradation, emphasizing opportunities to expand and refine UPS-targeted interventions.</p>","PeriodicalId":440,"journal":{"name":"Trends in Biochemical Sciences","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":11.0,"publicationDate":"2025-09-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12435903/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145051522","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":"Membranes as targets and modifiers of mutant huntingtin aggregation.","authors":"Justin Legleiter","doi":"10.1016/j.tibs.2025.08.005","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tibs.2025.08.005","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Huntington's disease (HD) is a neurodegenerative disorder caused by an expanded CAG repeat in the huntingtin (HTT) gene, resulting in an expanded polyglutamine (polyQ) tract in HTT protein. Expanded polyQ tracts cause mutant HTT (mHTT) to aggregate and accumulate as cellular inclusions. Recent studies highlight the interactions between mHTT and different cellular membranes that contribute to HD pathogenesis. Beyond being targets for mHTT-induced damage, membranes modify mHTT aggregation in a complex manner. This review explores the membrane abnormalities observed in a variety of HD models and the interplay between binding to and subsequent aggregation of mHTT on membranes, with an emphasis on N-terminal mHTT fragments. Understanding mHTT-lipid interactions may provide potential targets for therapeutic intervention that would complement other efforts.</p>","PeriodicalId":440,"journal":{"name":"Trends in Biochemical Sciences","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":11.0,"publicationDate":"2025-09-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145032581","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}
Sol C Begue, Emanuela Leonardi, Silvio C E Tosatto
{"title":"Decoding protein structures with residue interaction networks.","authors":"Sol C Begue, Emanuela Leonardi, Silvio C E Tosatto","doi":"10.1016/j.tibs.2025.08.006","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tibs.2025.08.006","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The rise of AlphaFold and similar structure predictors has made it possible to determine the 3D structure of almost any protein from its amino acid sequence. Residue interaction networks (RINs), graphs where residues are represented as nodes and interactions as edges, provide a powerful framework for analyzing and interpreting this surge in structural data. Here, we provide a comprehensive introduction to RINs, exploring different approaches to constructing and analyzing them, including their integration with molecular dynamics (MD) simulations and artificial intelligence (AI). To illustrate their versatility, we present different case studies where RINs have been applied to investigate thermostability, allosterism, post-translational modifications (PTMs), homology, and evolution. Finally, we discuss future directions for RINs, emphasizing opportunities for refinement and broader integration into structural biology.</p>","PeriodicalId":440,"journal":{"name":"Trends in Biochemical Sciences","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":11.0,"publicationDate":"2025-09-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145008056","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":"SAM cycle and adenosine at the heart of immune conversations","authors":"Sajad Ahmad Najar , Rahul Bohra , Tina Mukherjee","doi":"10.1016/j.tibs.2025.06.001","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.tibs.2025.06.001","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Recent work by <span><span>Nedbalova et al.</span><svg><path></path></svg></span><span> reframes the SAM transmethylation<span> pathway as a biosensor and signaling hub, linking immune activation to systemic metabolic changes via adenosine export. Their compelling findings reveal a key mechanism by which immune cells<span> influence organism-wide physiology beyond traditional methylation roles.</span></span></span></div></div>","PeriodicalId":440,"journal":{"name":"Trends in Biochemical Sciences","volume":"50 9","pages":"Pages 738-740"},"PeriodicalIF":11.0,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144324084","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":"From transcription to export: mRNA’s winding path to the cytoplasm","authors":"Murray Stewart","doi":"10.1016/j.tibs.2025.06.004","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.tibs.2025.06.004","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>In eukaryotes, the separation of transcription from translation enables extensive mRNA processing (capping, splicing, and polyadenylation) before translation. This review focuses on recent work that provides considerable insight into how mRNAs navigate these processes in which a spectrum of RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) coordinate different processing steps and couple them to nuclear export. Although the principal components in these pathways have been identified, the precise way in which RBPs bind to mRNAs, some aspects of how their binding and release are mediated by DEAD-box ATPases, and the complete structures of some messenger ribonucleoprotein complexes (mRNPs) remain unclear. Moreover, the checkpoints that recognize both completion of mRNA processing and the generation of mature mRNPs, as well as how they are coordinated, are only partially characterized.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":440,"journal":{"name":"Trends in Biochemical Sciences","volume":"50 9","pages":"Pages 748-765"},"PeriodicalIF":11.0,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144648142","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}
Claire F. Dickson , Prabhjeet Phalora , David A. Jacques
{"title":"The intersection of viral mimicry and nuclear entry","authors":"Claire F. Dickson , Prabhjeet Phalora , David A. Jacques","doi":"10.1016/j.tibs.2025.07.002","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.tibs.2025.07.002","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The nuclear pore complex (NPC) facilitates macromolecular exchange between the cytoplasm and nucleus; the selective nature of which is vital to proper cell functioning. Many DNA and some RNA viruses must also access the host nucleus for successful replication and have evolved numerous strategies for this purpose, the most common of which is mimicry of cellular cargoes. Recent biochemical studies have also identified an alternative strategy, mimicry of nuclear transport receptors (NTRs). In this Review, we summarize the multiple ways in which viral protein complexes and capsids access the nucleus and discuss how studying these interactions has reshaped our understanding of the NPC and the nature of nuclear cytoplasmic transport.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":440,"journal":{"name":"Trends in Biochemical Sciences","volume":"50 9","pages":"Pages 810-821"},"PeriodicalIF":11.0,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144797804","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}
Thomas L. Koch , Samuel D. Robinson , Helena Safavi-Hemami
{"title":"Molecular mimicry: ecology, evolution, and applications of doppelgänger peptides","authors":"Thomas L. Koch , Samuel D. Robinson , Helena Safavi-Hemami","doi":"10.1016/j.tibs.2025.06.011","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.tibs.2025.06.011","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Organisms engage in chemical interactions that drive cooperation, conflict, natural selection, and adaptation. Among these, doppelgänger peptides (molecular mimics of the endogenous hormones or neuropeptides of another organism) have evolved in many venomous and poisonous organisms, and some parasites and pathogens. While the discovery of these peptides has been largely anecdotal, a surge in sequence data combined with computational tools suggests they are more prevalent than previously recognized. Beyond their significance in biology, emerging techniques for studying cellular signaling and a renewed interest in peptide-based therapeutics position these molecules as candidates for translational applications. In this review, we explore the role of doppelgänger peptides in chemical ecology, molecular evolution, and medicine, and provide new perspectives to guide future research.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":440,"journal":{"name":"Trends in Biochemical Sciences","volume":"50 9","pages":"Pages 795-809"},"PeriodicalIF":11.0,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144658095","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":"Advisory Board and Contents","authors":"","doi":"10.1016/S0968-0004(25)00199-9","DOIUrl":"10.1016/S0968-0004(25)00199-9","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":440,"journal":{"name":"Trends in Biochemical Sciences","volume":"50 9","pages":"Pages i-ii"},"PeriodicalIF":11.0,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145005043","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 crosstalk of m6A-modified RNA with DNA damage repair","authors":"Fei Qu , Yuan Liu","doi":"10.1016/j.tibs.2025.06.012","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.tibs.2025.06.012","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div><em>N</em><sup>6</sup>-methyladenosine (m<sup>6</sup>A) is the most abundant epitranscriptomic mark on mRNA and plays crucial roles in gene expression, cell differentiation, stress responses, and cancer and neurodegenerative diseases. Recent studies have further revealed a new role of m<sup>6</sup>A-modified coding and noncoding RNAs in regulating DNA repair and modulating genome stability. In this review, we first discuss the roles of m<sup>6</sup>A modification in regulating RNA stability and splicing of DNA repair genes, as well as its roles in guiding DNA repair. We then discuss the crosstalk between m<sup>6</sup>A-modified RNA and DNA damage and repair, highlighting several outstanding questions.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":440,"journal":{"name":"Trends in Biochemical Sciences","volume":"50 9","pages":"Pages 822-833"},"PeriodicalIF":11.0,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144688505","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}