BioEssaysPub Date : 2024-11-26DOI: 10.1002/bies.202400239
{"title":"In grateful recognition of our Editorial Board","authors":"","doi":"10.1002/bies.202400239","DOIUrl":"10.1002/bies.202400239","url":null,"abstract":"<p>At the end of the year, we would like once again to express our deep thanks to the members of our Editorial Board listed below for their valuable input. We are grateful for their involvement in various aspects of the journal.</p><p>After 10 years of service, we say goodbye to Matt Kaeberlein, Bernd Schierwater, Michael Shen, and Reiner Veitia, and wish them all the best for their research.</p><p> \u0000 </p>","PeriodicalId":9264,"journal":{"name":"BioEssays","volume":"46 12","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2024-11-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/bies.202400239","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142715440","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}
BioEssaysPub Date : 2024-11-26DOI: 10.1002/bies.202400237
{"title":"A word of heartfelt thanks to our reviewers","authors":"","doi":"10.1002/bies.202400237","DOIUrl":"10.1002/bies.202400237","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":9264,"journal":{"name":"BioEssays","volume":"46 12","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2024-11-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142715434","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
BioEssaysPub Date : 2024-11-14DOI: 10.1002/bies.202400194
Markus Friedrich
{"title":"Newly discovered harvestmen relict eyes eyeing for their functions.","authors":"Markus Friedrich","doi":"10.1002/bies.202400194","DOIUrl":"10.1002/bies.202400194","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Most chelicerates operate the world with two kinds of visual organs, the median and lateral eyes of the arthropod ground plan. In harvestmen (Opiliones), however, members of the small and withdrawn suborder Cyphophthalmi lack eyes except for two genera with lateral eyes. In the other suborders (Eupnoi, Dyspnoi, and Laniatores), lateral eyes are absent but median eyes pronounced. To resolve the phylogenetic history of these contrasting trait states and the taxonomic position of a four-eyed harvestmen fossil, visual system development was recently studied in the daddy longleg Phalangium opilio (Eupnoi). This effort uncovered not only a highly regressed and internalized pair of lateral eyes but also a similarly cryptic pair of additional median eyes. After recounting the evo-devo discovery journey of uncompromising harvestmen taxonomists, this review explores comparative evidence that the enigmatic P. opilio relict eyes might serve the multichannel zeitgeber system of the biological clock.</p>","PeriodicalId":9264,"journal":{"name":"BioEssays","volume":" ","pages":"e2400194"},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2024-11-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142615173","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
BioEssaysPub Date : 2024-11-11DOI: 10.1002/bies.202400207
Paula Follert, Linda Große-Segerath, Eckhard Lammert
{"title":"Blood flow-induced angiocrine signals promote organ growth and regeneration.","authors":"Paula Follert, Linda Große-Segerath, Eckhard Lammert","doi":"10.1002/bies.202400207","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/bies.202400207","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Recently, we identified myeloid-derived growth factor (MYDGF) as a blood flow-induced angiocrine signal that promotes human and mouse hepatocyte proliferation and survival. Here, we review literature reporting changes in blood flow after partial organ resection in the liver, lung, and kidney, and we describe the angiocrine signals released by endothelial cells (ECs) upon blood flow alterations in these organs. While hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) and MYDGF are important angiocrine signals for liver regeneration, by now, angiocrine signals have also been reported to stimulate hyperplasia and/or hypertrophy during the regeneration of lungs and kidneys. In addition, angiocrine signals play a critical role in tumor growth. Understanding the mechano-elastic properties and flow-mediated alterations in the organ-specific microvasculature is crucial for therapeutic approaches to maintain organ health and initiate organ renewal.</p>","PeriodicalId":9264,"journal":{"name":"BioEssays","volume":" ","pages":"e2400207"},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2024-11-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142615169","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
BioEssaysPub Date : 2024-11-11DOI: 10.1002/bies.202400164
Heather D Curtsinger, Sofía Martínez-Absalón, Yuchang Liu, Allison J Lopatkin
{"title":"The metabolic burden associated with plasmid acquisition: An assessment of the unrecognized benefits to host cells.","authors":"Heather D Curtsinger, Sofía Martínez-Absalón, Yuchang Liu, Allison J Lopatkin","doi":"10.1002/bies.202400164","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/bies.202400164","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Bacterial conjugation, wherein DNA is transferred between cells through direct contact, is highly prevalent in complex microbial communities and is responsible for spreading myriad genes related to human and environmental health. Despite their importance, much remains unknown regarding the mechanisms driving the spread and persistence of these plasmids in situ. Studies have demonstrated that transferring, acquiring, and maintaining a plasmid imposes a significant metabolic burden on the host. Simultaneously, emerging evidence suggests that the presence of a conjugative plasmid can also provide both obvious and unexpected benefits to their host and local community. Combined, this highlights a continuous cost-benefit tradeoff at the population level, likely contributing to overall plasmid abundance and long-term persistence. Yet, while the metabolic burdens of plasmid conjugation, and their causes, are widely studied, their attendant potential advantages are less clear. Here, we summarize current perspectives on conjugative plasmids' metabolic burden and then highlight the lesser-appreciated yet critical benefits that plasmid-mediated metabolic burdens may provide. We argue that this largely unexplored tradeoff is critical to both a fundamental theory of microbial populations and engineering applications and therefore warrants further detailed study.</p>","PeriodicalId":9264,"journal":{"name":"BioEssays","volume":" ","pages":"e2400164"},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2024-11-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142615175","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
BioEssaysPub Date : 2024-11-09DOI: 10.1002/bies.202400125
Damiano Mangoni, Aurora Mazzetti, Federico Ansaloni, Alessandro Simi, Gian Gaetano Tartaglia, Luca Pandolfini, Stefano Gustincich, Remo Sanges
{"title":"From the genome's perspective: Bearing somatic retrotransposition to leverage the regulatory potential of L1 RNAs.","authors":"Damiano Mangoni, Aurora Mazzetti, Federico Ansaloni, Alessandro Simi, Gian Gaetano Tartaglia, Luca Pandolfini, Stefano Gustincich, Remo Sanges","doi":"10.1002/bies.202400125","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/bies.202400125","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Transposable elements (TEs) are mobile genomic elements constituting a big fraction of eukaryotic genomes. They ignite an evolutionary arms race with host genomes, which in turn evolve strategies to restrict their activity. Despite being tightly repressed, TEs display precisely regulated expression patterns during specific stages of mammalian development, suggesting potential benefits for the host. Among TEs, the long interspersed nuclear element (LINE-1 or L1) has been found to be active in neurons. This activity prompted extensive research into its possible role in cognition. So far, no specific cause-effect relationship between L1 retrotransposition and brain functions has been conclusively identified. Nevertheless, accumulating evidence suggests that interactions between L1 RNAs and RNA/DNA binding proteins encode specific messages that cells utilize to activate or repress entire transcriptional programs. We summarize recent findings highlighting the activity of L1 RNAs at the non-coding level during early embryonic and brain development. We propose a hypothesis suggesting a mutualistic relationship between L1 mRNAs and the host cell. In this scenario, cells tolerate a certain rate of retrotransposition to leverage the regulatory effects of L1s as non-coding RNAs on potentiating their mitotic potential. In turn, L1s benefit from the cell's proliferative state to increase their chance to mobilize.</p>","PeriodicalId":9264,"journal":{"name":"BioEssays","volume":" ","pages":"e2400125"},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2024-11-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142615172","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
BioEssaysPub Date : 2024-11-09DOI: 10.1002/bies.202400110
Heather Hartmann, Ghalia Saad Siddiqui, Jamal Bryant, David J Robbins, Vivian L Weiss, Yashi Ahmed, Ethan Lee
{"title":"Wnt signalosomes: What we know that we do not know.","authors":"Heather Hartmann, Ghalia Saad Siddiqui, Jamal Bryant, David J Robbins, Vivian L Weiss, Yashi Ahmed, Ethan Lee","doi":"10.1002/bies.202400110","DOIUrl":"10.1002/bies.202400110","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Signaling through the Wnt/β-catenin pathway is relayed through three multiprotein complexes: (1) the membrane-associated signalosome, which includes the activated Wnt receptors, (2) the cytoplasmic destruction complex that regulates turnover of the transcriptional coactivator β-catenin, and (3) the nuclear enhanceosome that mediates pathway-specific transcription. Recent discoveries have revealed that Wnt receptor activities are tightly regulated to maintain proper tissue homeostasis and that aberrant receptor upregulation enhances Wnt signaling to drive tumorigenesis, highlighting the importance of signalosome control. These studies have focused on the detailed process by which Wnt ligands engage their coreceptors, LRP5/6 and Frizzled. However, the components that constitute the signalosome and the regulation of their assembly remain undefined. In this review, we discuss Wnt/β-catenin signalosome composition and the mechanisms that regulate signalosome assembly, including the role of biomolecular condensates and ubiquitylation. We also summarize the evidence for the presence of Wnt ligand-independent signalosome formation.</p>","PeriodicalId":9264,"journal":{"name":"BioEssays","volume":" ","pages":"e2400110"},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2024-11-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142615178","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
BioEssaysPub Date : 2024-11-06DOI: 10.1002/bies.202400154
Koen Kemna, Mirjam van der Burg, Arjan Lankester, Martin Giera
{"title":"Hematopoietic stem cell metabolism within the bone marrow niche - insights and opportunities.","authors":"Koen Kemna, Mirjam van der Burg, Arjan Lankester, Martin Giera","doi":"10.1002/bies.202400154","DOIUrl":"10.1002/bies.202400154","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Hematopoiesis unfolds within the bone marrow niche where hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) play a central role in continually replenishing blood cells. The hypoxic bone marrow environment imparts peculiar metabolic characteristics to hematopoietic processes. Here, we discuss the internal metabolism of HSCs and describe external influences exerted on HSC metabolism by the bone marrow niche environment. Importantly, we suggest that the metabolic environment and metabolic cues are intertwined with HSC cell fate, and are crucial for hematopoietic processes. Metabolic dysregulation within the bone marrow niche during acute stress, inflammation, and chronic inflammatory conditions can lead to reduced HSC vitality. Additionally, we raise questions regarding metabolic stresses imposed on HSCs during implementation of stem cell protocols such as allo-SCT and gene therapy, and the potential ramifications. Enhancing our comprehension of metabolic influences on HSCs will expand our understanding of pathophysiology in the bone marrow and improve the application of stem cell therapies.</p>","PeriodicalId":9264,"journal":{"name":"BioEssays","volume":" ","pages":"e2400154"},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2024-11-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142590176","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
BioEssaysPub Date : 2024-11-06DOI: 10.1002/bies.202400206
Jarred M Whitlock, Leonid V Chernomordik
{"title":"Cell-cell fusion: To lose one life and begin another.","authors":"Jarred M Whitlock, Leonid V Chernomordik","doi":"10.1002/bies.202400206","DOIUrl":"10.1002/bies.202400206","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>As life extended into eukaryota, a great host of strategies emerged in the pursuit of cellular life. Some cells have been successful in solitude, some moved into cooperatives (i.e., multicellular organisms), but one additional strategy emerged. Throughout eukaryotes, many of the diverse multicellular cooperatives took life in partnership one step further. These cells came together and lost their singularity in the expanse of syncytial life. Recently in our search for this elusive \"how\", we discovered the intriguing peculiarity of a nuclear, RNA-binding protein living a second life as a fusion manager at the surface of developing osteoclasts, ushering them into syncytia 1. It is from here that we will develop several thoughts about the advantages of multinucleated cells and discuss how these fusing cells pass through several hallmarks of cell death. We will propose that cell fusion shares much with cell death because cell fusion is a death of sorts for the cells that undergo it - a death of the life that was and the beginning of new life in a community without borders.</p>","PeriodicalId":9264,"journal":{"name":"BioEssays","volume":" ","pages":"e2400206"},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2024-11-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142590162","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
BioEssaysPub Date : 2024-11-06DOI: 10.1002/bies.202400087
Patrick Manetsch, Michael O Hottiger
{"title":"Unleashing viral mimicry: A combinatorial strategy to enhance the efficacy of PARP7 inhibitors.","authors":"Patrick Manetsch, Michael O Hottiger","doi":"10.1002/bies.202400087","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/bies.202400087","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Cancer cells exploit mechanisms to evade immune detection triggered by aberrant self-nucleic acids (NA). PARP7, a key player in this immune evasion strategy, has emerged as a potential target for cancer therapy. PARP7 inhibitors reactivate NA sensing, resulting in type I interferon (IFN) signaling, programmed cell death, anti-tumor immunity, and tumor regression. Cancer cells with elevated IFN-stimulated gene (ISG) scores, representing a viral mimicry-primed state, are particularly sensitive to PARP7 inhibition. This review focuses on the endogenous sources of NA in cancer and the potential to exploit elevated aberrant self-NA in cancer therapy. We describe strategies to increase cytoplamic NA levels, including targeting epigenetic control, DNA damage response, and mitochondrial function. We also discuss targeting RNA processing pathways, such as splicing and RNA editing, to enhance the immunostimulatory potential of existing NA. Combining PARP7 inhibitors with NA elevating strategies may improve cancer immunotherapy, especially for tumors with high ISG scores.</p>","PeriodicalId":9264,"journal":{"name":"BioEssays","volume":" ","pages":"e2400087"},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2024-11-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142582282","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}