{"title":"Mitochondria and cell death signalling","authors":"Ella Hall-Younger , Stephen WG. Tait","doi":"10.1016/j.ceb.2025.102510","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ceb.2025.102510","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Mitochondria are essential organelles in the life and death of a cell. During apoptosis, mitochondrial outer membrane permeabilisation (MOMP) engages caspase activation and cell death. Under nonlethal apoptotic stress, some mitochondria undergo permeabilisation, termed minority MOMP. Nonlethal apoptotic signalling impacts processes including genome stability, senescence and innate immunity. Recent studies have shown that upon MOMP, mitochondria and consequent signalling can trigger inflammation. We discuss how this occurs, and how mitochondrial inflammation might be targeted to increase tumour immunogenicity. Finally, we highlight how mitochondria contribute to other types of cell death including pyroptosis and ferroptosis. Collectively, these studies reveal critical new insights into how mitochondria regulate cell death, highlighting that mitochondrial signals engaged under nonlethal apoptotic stress have wide-ranging biological functions.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":50608,"journal":{"name":"Current Opinion in Cell Biology","volume":"94 ","pages":"Article 102510"},"PeriodicalIF":6.0,"publicationDate":"2025-04-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143817186","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Beyond mechanosensing: How cells sense and shape their physical environment during development","authors":"Matyas Bubna-Litic, Roberto Mayor","doi":"10.1016/j.ceb.2025.102514","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ceb.2025.102514","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The role of mechanics as a regulator of cell behaviour and embryo development has been widely recognised. However, much of the focus in mechanobiology during embryo development has been on how the mechanical properties of a cell affect its behaviour and fate determination. We discuss the role of mechanosignalling in development and propose that an equally important aspect of embryo mechanobiology is understanding how dynamic changes in tissue mechanics are regulated. Comparably to how chemical signals influence the fate of responding tissues during embryonic induction, we suggest that embryonic cell populations can alter the mechanical properties of adjacent tissues in a process we name ‘actuation’. Several examples of embryonic actuation and mechanical feedback are discussed.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":50608,"journal":{"name":"Current Opinion in Cell Biology","volume":"94 ","pages":"Article 102514"},"PeriodicalIF":6.0,"publicationDate":"2025-04-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143808302","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Nanoscale mechano-adaption of integrin-based cell adhesions: New tools and techniques lead the way","authors":"Ryosuke Nishimura , Pakorn Kanchanawong","doi":"10.1016/j.ceb.2025.102509","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ceb.2025.102509","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Force generation and transmission in biological systems are driven by protein-based machinery organized at the nanoscale. Thus, technological advances that allow for the measurement or manipulation of molecular-scale features are key to new mechanobiological insights. Integrins, a superfamily of adhesion receptors, function by forming supramolecular complexes that mediate mechanobiological processes such as migration and matrix remodeling. This review highlights recent findings that harness advanced techniques in microscopy, nanotechnology, and biosensors to uncover nanoscale transformations that accompany integrin responses to mechanobiological stimuli. Recent discoveries are sharpening our understanding of the diverse functions and structural organization of different integrin heterodimers and their molecular partners, highlighting their critical roles in cellular processes.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":50608,"journal":{"name":"Current Opinion in Cell Biology","volume":"94 ","pages":"Article 102509"},"PeriodicalIF":6.0,"publicationDate":"2025-04-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143784028","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Inter-organ communication in Drosophila: Lipoproteins, adipokines, and immune-metabolic coordination","authors":"Akhila Rajan , Jason Karpac","doi":"10.1016/j.ceb.2025.102508","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ceb.2025.102508","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Inter-organ communication networks are essential for maintaining systemic homeostasis in multicellular organisms. In <em>Drosophila melanogaster</em>, studies of adipokines and lipoproteins reveal evolutionarily conserved mechanisms coordinating metabolism, immunity, and behavior. This mini-review focuses on two key pathways: the adipokine Unpaired 2 (Upd2) and lipoprotein-mediated signaling. Upd2, a leptin analog, mediates fat-brain communication to regulate insulin secretion, sleep, and feeding behavior. Recent work has uncovered an LC3/Atg8-dependent secretion mechanism for Upd2, linking nutrient sensing to systemic adaptation. Lipoproteins, particularly ApoLpp and LTP, function beyond lipid transport, orchestrating neural maintenance and immune responses. During infection, macrophage-derived signals trigger lipoprotein-mediated lipid redistribution to support host defense. Additionally, muscle tissue emerges as an unexpected mediator of immune-metabolic coordination through inter-organ signaling. These findings highlight the intricate cross-talk between organs required for organismal survival and suggest therapeutic strategies for metabolic disorders.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":50608,"journal":{"name":"Current Opinion in Cell Biology","volume":"94 ","pages":"Article 102508"},"PeriodicalIF":6.0,"publicationDate":"2025-04-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143767875","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Julia Bourdeau, Prashali Chauhan, Jennifer L. Ross
{"title":"Learning physics and biology from cytoskeletal and condensate interactions","authors":"Julia Bourdeau, Prashali Chauhan, Jennifer L. Ross","doi":"10.1016/j.ceb.2025.102506","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ceb.2025.102506","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Two important mechanisms for self-organization in cells include condensation of biomolecules, such as proteins and nucleic acids into phase-separated droplets to form membraneless organelles and organization of the cytoskeletal filaments into larger-scale systems such as the actin cortex and the microtubule-based mitotic spindle. Recent publications highlight that these two intracellular organization schemes are coordinated, with condensates controlling cytoskeletal organizations and cytoskeleton organizing the condensates. Here, we focus on recent progress from the past 2 years at the interface between condensates and cytoskeleton. We split the discussion into the physical and biological principles we can learn from these recent studies.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":50608,"journal":{"name":"Current Opinion in Cell Biology","volume":"94 ","pages":"Article 102506"},"PeriodicalIF":6.0,"publicationDate":"2025-04-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143767877","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Structuring of the endolysosomal system by HOPS and CORVET tethering complexes","authors":"Christian Ungermann , Arne Moeller","doi":"10.1016/j.ceb.2025.102504","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ceb.2025.102504","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Eukaryotic cells depend on their endolysosomal system for membrane protein and organelle turnover, plasma membrane quality control, or regulation of their nutrient uptake. All material eventually ends up in the lytic environment of the lysosome for cellular recycling. At endosomes and lysosomes, the multisubunit complexes CORVET and HOPS tether membranes by binding both their cognate Rab GTPase and specific membrane lipids. Additionally, they carry one Sec1/Munc18-like subunit at their center and thus promote SNARE assembly and, subsequently, bilayer mixing. Recent structural and functional analysis provided insights into their organization and suggested how these complexes combine tethering with fusion catalysis. This review discusses the function and structural organization of HOPS and CORVET in the context of recent studies in yeast and metazoan cells.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":50608,"journal":{"name":"Current Opinion in Cell Biology","volume":"94 ","pages":"Article 102504"},"PeriodicalIF":6.0,"publicationDate":"2025-04-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143767874","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Dynamic structure of the cytoplasm","authors":"Hyojun Kim, Morgan Delarue","doi":"10.1016/j.ceb.2025.102507","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ceb.2025.102507","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The cytoplasm is a dense and complex milieu in which a plethora of biochemical reactions occur. Its structure is not understood so far, albeit being central to cellular functioning. In this review, we highlight a novel perspective in which the physical properties of the cytoplasm are regulated in space and time and actively contribute to cellular function. Furthermore, we underscore recent findings that the dynamic formation of local assemblies within the cytoplasm, such as condensates and polysomes, serves as a key regulator of mesoscale cytoplasmic dynamics.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":50608,"journal":{"name":"Current Opinion in Cell Biology","volume":"94 ","pages":"Article 102507"},"PeriodicalIF":6.0,"publicationDate":"2025-04-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143767876","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Structural insights into traffic through the Golgi complex","authors":"Bryce A. Brownfield , J. Christopher Fromme","doi":"10.1016/j.ceb.2025.102505","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ceb.2025.102505","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The Golgi complex is the central sorting station of eukaryotic cells. Several unique trafficking pathways direct the transport of proteins between the Golgi and the endoplasmic reticulum, plasma membrane, and endolysosomal system. In this review we highlight several recent studies that use structural biology approaches to discover and characterize novel mechanisms cells use to control the flow of traffic through the Golgi. These studies provide important new insights into how activation of Arf and Rab GTPases is regulated, how cargo proteins are sorted during vesicle biogenesis, and how vesicle tethers identify their target compartments.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":50608,"journal":{"name":"Current Opinion in Cell Biology","volume":"94 ","pages":"Article 102505"},"PeriodicalIF":6.0,"publicationDate":"2025-03-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143716174","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Catharina Küng , Michael Lazarou , Thanh Ngoc Nguyen
{"title":"Advances in mitophagy initiation mechanisms","authors":"Catharina Küng , Michael Lazarou , Thanh Ngoc Nguyen","doi":"10.1016/j.ceb.2025.102493","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ceb.2025.102493","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Mitophagy is an important lysosomal degradative pathway that removes damaged or unwanted mitochondria to maintain cellular and organismal homeostasis. The mechanisms behind how mitophagy is initiated to form autophagosomes around mitochondria have gained a lot of interest since they can be potentially targeted by mitophagy-inducing therapeutics. Mitophagy initiation can be driven by various autophagy receptors or adaptors that respond to different cellular and mitochondrial stimuli, ranging from mitochondrial damage to metabolic rewiring. This review will cover recent advances in our understanding of how mitophagy is initiated, and by doing so reveal the mechanistic plasticity of how autophagosome formation can begin.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":50608,"journal":{"name":"Current Opinion in Cell Biology","volume":"94 ","pages":"Article 102493"},"PeriodicalIF":6.0,"publicationDate":"2025-03-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143674886","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Xiao Wang , Tiantian Li , Yusong Guo , Xiao-Wei Chen
{"title":"License to drive: Receptor-mediated ER exit of proteins and lipids","authors":"Xiao Wang , Tiantian Li , Yusong Guo , Xiao-Wei Chen","doi":"10.1016/j.ceb.2025.102501","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ceb.2025.102501","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The secretory pathway, which begins at the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) through the COPII complex, is responsible for transporting proteins and lipid carriers to various destined cellular compartments or extracellular space. The fundamental mechanism by which the COPII operates is evolutionarily conserved. Nevertheless, the vast diversity of mammalian cargos poses significant challenges to the secretory pathway, especially considering the intricate physiology <em>in vivo</em>. Particularly, certain physiologically essential cargos, including procollagen and lipoproteins, appear to be oversized for these canonical carriers, implying the need for additional sophisticated regulation at the onset step so-called ER exit. Emerging evidence highlights the critical role of cargo receptors in selective sorting for ER export, illuminating the complex biology of the trafficking dynamics, which holds broad implications for human health and diseases.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":50608,"journal":{"name":"Current Opinion in Cell Biology","volume":"94 ","pages":"Article 102501"},"PeriodicalIF":6.0,"publicationDate":"2025-03-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143674912","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}