Jia-Nan Gong, Tirta M. Djajawi, Donia M. Moujalled, Giovanna Pomilio, Tiffany Khong, Li-Ping Zhang, Pasquale L. Fedele, Michael S. Low, Mary Ann Anderson, Christopher D. Riffkin, Christine A. White, Ping Lan, Guillaume Lessene, Marco J. Herold, Andreas Strasser, Andrew Spencer, George Grigoriadis, Andrew H. Wei, Mark F. van Delft, Andrew W. Roberts, David C. S. Huang
{"title":"Re-appraising assays on permeabilized blood cancer cells testing venetoclax or other BH3 mimetic agents selectively targeting pro-survival BCL2 proteins","authors":"Jia-Nan Gong, Tirta M. Djajawi, Donia M. Moujalled, Giovanna Pomilio, Tiffany Khong, Li-Ping Zhang, Pasquale L. Fedele, Michael S. Low, Mary Ann Anderson, Christopher D. Riffkin, Christine A. White, Ping Lan, Guillaume Lessene, Marco J. Herold, Andreas Strasser, Andrew Spencer, George Grigoriadis, Andrew H. Wei, Mark F. van Delft, Andrew W. Roberts, David C. S. Huang","doi":"10.1038/s41418-025-01487-7","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1038/s41418-025-01487-7","url":null,"abstract":"<p>BH3 mimetic drugs that selectively target the pro-survival BCL2 proteins are highly promising for cancer treatment, most notably for treating blood cancers. Venetoclax, which inhibits BCL2, is now approved for treating chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Preferably, robust and validated assays would identify patients most likely to benefit from therapy with venetoclax itself or with inhibitors of other pro-survival proteins. A sophisticated method that has been developed is the BH3 profiling assay. In this assay, permeabilized, instead of intact, cells are treated for a few hours with inhibitors of the pro-survival BCL2 proteins, and the resultant mitochondrial depolarization measured. Sensitivity to a specific inhibitor (e.g., venetoclax or other BH3 mimetics) is then used to infer the reliance of a tumor (e.g., CLL) on one or more pro-survival BCL2 proteins. However, we found that this methodology cannot reliably identify such dependencies. In part, this is because almost all cells express multiple pro-survival BCL2 proteins that restrain BAX and BAK which must be inhibited before mitochondrial depolarization and apoptosis can proceed. Using genetic and pharmacological tools across multiple cell line models of blood cancer, we demonstrated that selective BCL2 inhibitors have important flow-on effects that includes the redistribution of BH3-only proteins to ancillary pro-survival proteins not directly engaged by the inhibitor. These secondary effects, critical to the biological action of selective inhibitors, were not accurately recapitulated in permeabilized cells, probably due to the limited time frame possible in such assays or the altered biophysical conditions when cells are permeabilized. While we could consistently define the sensitivity of a tumor cell to a particular BH3 mimetic drugs using intact cells, this was not reliable with permeabilized cells. These studies emphasize the need to carefully evaluate assays on permeabilized cells undertaken with inhibitors of the pro-survival BCL2 proteins.</p>","PeriodicalId":9731,"journal":{"name":"Cell Death and Differentiation","volume":"21 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":12.4,"publicationDate":"2025-04-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143813539","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 metabolic enzyme GYS1 condenses with NONO/p54nrb in the nucleus and spatiotemporally regulates glycogenesis and myogenic differentiation","authors":"Shujun Peng, Canrong Li, Yifan Wang, Yuguo Yi, Xinyu Chen, Yujing Yin, Fan Yang, Fengzhi Chen, Yingyi Ouyang, Haolun Xu, Baicheng Chen, Haowen Shi, Qingrun Li, Yu Zhao, Lin Feng, Zhenji Gan, Xiaoduo Xie","doi":"10.1038/s41418-025-01509-4","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1038/s41418-025-01509-4","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Accumulating evidence indicates that metabolic enzymes can directly couple metabolic signals to transcriptional adaptation and cell differentiation. Glycogen synthase 1 (GYS1), the key metabolic enzyme for glycogenesis, is a nucleocytoplasmic shuttling protein compartmentalized in the cytosol and nucleus. However, the spatiotemporal regulation and biological function of nuclear GYS1 (nGYS1) microcompartments remain unclear. Here, we show that GYS1 dynamically reorganizes into nuclear condensates under conditions of glycogen depletion or transcription inhibition. nGYS1 complexes with the transcription factor NONO/p54<sup>nrb</sup> and undergoes liquid–liquid phase separation to form biomolecular condensates, leading to its nuclear retention and inhibition of glycogen biosynthesis. Compared to their wild-type littermates, Nono-deficient mice exhibit exercise intolerance, higher muscle glycogen content, and smaller myofibers. Additionally, Gys1 or Nono deficiency prevents C2C12 differentiation and cardiotoxin-induced muscle regeneration in mice. Mechanistically, nGYS1 and NONO co-condense with the myogenic transcription factor MyoD and preinitiation complex (PIC) proteins to form transcriptional condensates, driving myogenic gene expression during myoblast differentiation. These results reveal the spatiotemporal regulation and subcellular function of nuclear GYS1 condensates in glycogenesis and myogenesis, providing mechanistic insights into glycogenoses and muscular dystrophy.</p>","PeriodicalId":9731,"journal":{"name":"Cell Death and Differentiation","volume":"6 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":12.4,"publicationDate":"2025-04-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143805693","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}
Shuangshuang Zhang, Gaoxiang Li, Lianping He, Fei Wang, Mengru Gao, Tianliang Dai, Yushuang Su, Luyan Li, Ying Cao, Minghua Zheng, Liang Chen, Jun Cao, Hong Zhou
{"title":"Sphingosine kinase 2 deficiency impairs VLDL secretion by inhibiting mTORC2 phosphorylation and activating chaperone-mediated autophagy","authors":"Shuangshuang Zhang, Gaoxiang Li, Lianping He, Fei Wang, Mengru Gao, Tianliang Dai, Yushuang Su, Luyan Li, Ying Cao, Minghua Zheng, Liang Chen, Jun Cao, Hong Zhou","doi":"10.1038/s41418-025-01507-6","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1038/s41418-025-01507-6","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Hepatic very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) is essential for maintaining lipid metabolism in the liver. Sphingosine kinases (SphKs) are essential rate-limiting enzymes that catalyze sphingosine phosphorylation to Sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P). SphKs exist as two isoforms, SphK1 and SphK2, both highly expressed in the liver. SphK1 plays a critical role in regulating hepatic inflammation and drug metabolism. This study aimed to determine whether SphK2 regulates hepatic lipid metabolism, particularly VLDL secretion. Immunohistochemical staining revealed decreased SphK2 protein levels within regions proximal to hepatic lipid accumulation in individuals diagnosed with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD). <i>Sphk2</i><sup><i>−/−</i></sup> mice exhibited spontaneous hepatocyte lipid accumulation and reduced VLDL secretion. Proteomic analysis revealed that SphK2 deficiency impaired soluble N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive fusion attachment protein receptor (SNARE) complex interactions involved in vesicular transport and organelle membrane fusion. Furthermore, SphK2 deficiency results in accelerated degradation of the SEC22B, STX5A, and GS28 proteins via chaperone-mediated autophagy (CMA), impeding VLDL transport to the Golgi apparatus. MYH1485, a specific activator of mTOR, induces mTORC2 phosphorylation, thereby inhibiting the degradation of SNARE complexes by CMA and counteracting the lipid accumulation induced by SphK2 deficiency. Exogenous S1P supplementation markedly reversed the reduction in mTORC2 phosphorylation and suppressed CMA, thereby improving VLDL secretion. Our study elucidates an inventive regulatory mechanism by which SphK2 modulates CMA by activating mTORC2 phosphorylation, promoting VLDL secretion, and balancing lipid metabolism in the liver. These findings provide insights into SphK2 function and the underlying mechanisms involved in the regulation of VLDL secretion, which may facilitate MASLD treatment.</p><figure><p><b>Proposed model for the role of SphK2 in hepatic VLDL secretion</b>. In hepatocytes, the inhibition of SphK2 activity decreased S1P production, which subsequently downregulates the mTORC2 pathway. This process accelerates the degradation of the SNARE complex components STX5A, GS28, and SEC22B via CMA, which regulates the mutual recognition between VTVs and the Golgi apparatus, ultimately reducing VLDL secretion in hepatocytes.</p></figure>","PeriodicalId":9731,"journal":{"name":"Cell Death and Differentiation","volume":"20 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":12.4,"publicationDate":"2025-04-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143805700","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}
Bruno Maria Custode, Francesco Annunziata, Felipe Dos Santos Matos, Valentina Schiano, Veronica Maffia, Milena Lillo, Rita Colonna, Rossella De Cegli, Andrea Ballabio, Nunzia Pastore
{"title":"Folliculin depletion results in liver cell damage and cholangiocarcinoma through MiT/TFE activation","authors":"Bruno Maria Custode, Francesco Annunziata, Felipe Dos Santos Matos, Valentina Schiano, Veronica Maffia, Milena Lillo, Rita Colonna, Rossella De Cegli, Andrea Ballabio, Nunzia Pastore","doi":"10.1038/s41418-025-01486-8","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1038/s41418-025-01486-8","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Mutations in the tumor suppressor gene Folliculin (<i>FLCN</i>) are responsible for Birt-Hogg-Dube’ (BHD) syndrome, a rare inherited condition that predisposes affected individuals to skin tumors, pulmonary cysts, and kidney tumors. FLCN regulates key cellular pathways, including TFEB, TFE3, and mTORC1, which are critical for maintaining cell homeostasis. Loss of FLCN leads to both hyperactivation of mTORC1 and constitutive activation of TFEB and TFE3, contributing to tumorigenesis. While previous studies showed that Flcn liver-specific conditional knockout (Flcn<sup>LiKO</sup>) mice are protected from developing liver fibrosis and damage upon high-fat diet exposure, the potential role of FLCN loss in liver carcinogenesis remained unexplored. Here, we demonstrate that hepatic loss of FLCN in mice results in cancer associated with inflammation and fibrosis with features of cholangiocarcinoma (CCA). This phenotype emerges in mice over 90-week-old, with a male predominance. Moreover, Flcn<sup>LiKO</sup> mice are more prone to develop diethylnitrosamine (DEN)- or 3,5-diethoxycarbonyl-1,4-dihydrocollidine (DDC)- induced liver tumors with heterogenous histological features. Notably, depletion of TFE3, but not TFEB, in the liver of Flcn<sup>LiKO</sup> mice fully rescues the cancer phenotype and normalized mTORC1 signaling, highlighting TFE3 as the primary driver of liver cancer and mTORC1 hyperactivity in the absence of FLCN.</p><figure></figure>","PeriodicalId":9731,"journal":{"name":"Cell Death and Differentiation","volume":"183 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":12.4,"publicationDate":"2025-04-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143784726","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}
Zixiang Chen, Kaifeng Niu, Mengge Li, Yuchun Deng, Ji Zhang, Di Wei, Jiaqi Wang, Yongliang Zhao
{"title":"GCLC desuccinylation regulated by oxidative stress protects human cancer cells from ferroptosis","authors":"Zixiang Chen, Kaifeng Niu, Mengge Li, Yuchun Deng, Ji Zhang, Di Wei, Jiaqi Wang, Yongliang Zhao","doi":"10.1038/s41418-025-01505-8","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1038/s41418-025-01505-8","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Tumor cells evolve strong antioxidant capacities to counteract the abnormal high level of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the tumor microenvironment. Glutamate-cysteine ligase catalyzing subunit (GCLC) for synthesis of antioxidant glutathione (GSH) represents the key enzyme to maintain redox homeostasis of tumor cells, however, whether its activity is regulated by posttranslational modifications, such as succinylation, remains to be clarified. Here, we demonstrate the existence of succinylation modification on GCLC by in vitro and in vivo assays. NAD-dependent deacetylase Sirtuin-2 (SIRT2) serves as the desuccinylase and catalyzes GCLC desuccinylation at sites of K38, K126, and K326. Specifically, GCLC directly interacts with SIRT2, which can be substantially enhanced upon ROS treatment. This strengthened association results in GCLC desuccinylation and activation, consequently promoting GSH synthesis and rendering cancer cells resistant to ferroptosis induction. Depletion of SIRT2 decreases total GSH level and meanwhile increases the cellular susceptibility to ferroptosis, which can mostly be rescued by introducing wild-type GCLC, but not its 3K-E mutant. We further demonstrated that histone acetyltransferase P300 serves as the succinyltransferase of GCLC, and their association is remarkably decreased after ROS treatment. Thus, SIRT2-regulated GCLC succinylation represents an essential signaling axis for cancer cells to maintain their redox balance in coping with oxidative stress-induced ferroptosis.</p>","PeriodicalId":9731,"journal":{"name":"Cell Death and Differentiation","volume":"23 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":12.4,"publicationDate":"2025-04-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143784727","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}
Yiming Tu, Lei Xu, Guoqiang Fu, Jichen Wang, Pengfei Xia, Zeqiang Tao, Yangfan Ye, Jingming Hu, Wanzhi Cai, Hang Zhu, Qing Wu, Jing Ji
{"title":"Lactylation-driven USP4-mediated ANXA2 stabilization and activation promotes maintenance and radioresistance of glioblastoma stem cells","authors":"Yiming Tu, Lei Xu, Guoqiang Fu, Jichen Wang, Pengfei Xia, Zeqiang Tao, Yangfan Ye, Jingming Hu, Wanzhi Cai, Hang Zhu, Qing Wu, Jing Ji","doi":"10.1038/s41418-025-01494-8","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1038/s41418-025-01494-8","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most primary lethal brain cancer, characterized by the presence of glioblastoma stem cells (GSCs) that initiate and sustain tumor growth and induce radioresistance. Annexin A2 (ANXA2) has been reported to contribute to glioblastoma progression and impart stem cell-like properties to GSCs, however, its post-translational modifications and mechanisms in GSCs maintenance remain poorly understood. Here, we identify that USP4 is preferentially expressed by GSCs in GBM, USP4/ANXA2 supports GSCs maintenance and radioresistance. Specifically, USP4 interacts with ANXA2, stabilizing its protein by deubiquitinating ANXA2, which mediates its proteasomal degradation and Y24 phosphorylation. USP4 directly cleaves Lys48- and Lys63-linked polyubiquitin chains of ANXA2, with the Lys63-linked polyubiquitin chains of ANXA2 K28 mediating its Y24 phosphorylation. Moreover, K10 acetylation of ANXA2 enhances its interaction with USP4. Importantly, USP4/ANXA2 promotes GSCs maintenance and radioresistance by activating BMX-mediated STAT3 activation. H3K18 lactylation is responsible for the upregulation of USP4 in GSCs. Our studies reveal that USP4/ANXA2 plays critical roles in maintaining GSCs and therapeutic resistance, highlighting the importance of lactylation, acetylation, ubiquitination, and phosphorylation as critical post-translational modifications for USP4-mediated stabilization and activity of ANXA2.</p>","PeriodicalId":9731,"journal":{"name":"Cell Death and Differentiation","volume":"8 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":12.4,"publicationDate":"2025-04-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143782640","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}
Huifen Wang, Jia Hu, Di Wang, Yudie Cai, Weiwei Zhu, Rui Deng, Yize Zhang, Zihui Dong, Zhe Yang, Juan Xiao, Ang Li, Zhibo Liu
{"title":"TM9SF1 inhibits colorectal cancer metastasis by targeting Vimentin for Tollip-mediated selective autophagic degradation","authors":"Huifen Wang, Jia Hu, Di Wang, Yudie Cai, Weiwei Zhu, Rui Deng, Yize Zhang, Zihui Dong, Zhe Yang, Juan Xiao, Ang Li, Zhibo Liu","doi":"10.1038/s41418-025-01498-4","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1038/s41418-025-01498-4","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Selective autophagy is a finely regulated degradation pathway that can either promote or suppress cancer progression depending on its specific target cargoes. In this study, we report that transmembrane 9 superfamily member 1 (TM9SF1) suppresses colorectal cancer metastasis via selective autophagic degradation of Vimentin. <i>Tm9sf1</i> knockout significantly increases tumor numbers and size, as well as enhances tumor invasion in colorectal cancer model. In vitro and in vivo phenotypical analyses reveal that TM9SF1 functions as a metastasis suppressor in colorectal cancer. Mechanistically, TM9SF1 facilitates the K63-linked ubiquitination of Vimentin by the E3 ligase TRIM21. The K63-linked ubiquitination of Vimentin serves as a recognition signal for autophagic degradation mediated by autophagic cargo receptor Tollip. Consequently, the downregulation of Vimentin results in a decreased number of F-actin-rich stress fibers and filopodium-like protrusions, ultimately inhibiting colorectal cancer metastasis. Moreover, TM9SF1 is downregulated in colorectal cancer patients with advanced stage compared to those with early stage and associated with favorable prognosis. Overall, our findings identify a novel TM9SF1-TRIM21-Vimentin-Tollip pathway involved in colorectal cancer metastasis, which may provide promising therapeutic targets for the treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer.</p><figure></figure>","PeriodicalId":9731,"journal":{"name":"Cell Death and Differentiation","volume":"22 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":12.4,"publicationDate":"2025-04-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143766504","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":"DEPTOR suppresses lymphomagenesis by promoting EGFR degradation via HUWE1 E3 ligase","authors":"Xiufang Xiong, Xiaoyu Chen, Shengpeng Shao, Danrui Cui, Ruirui Qu, Baohui Wang, Ying Ma, Hui Pan, Yi Sun, Yongchao Zhao","doi":"10.1038/s41418-025-01497-5","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1038/s41418-025-01497-5","url":null,"abstract":"<p>DEPTOR, a naturally occurring inhibitor of mTOR, plays crucial roles in tumorigenesis and is frequently dysregulated in a variety of human cancers. Interestingly, DEPTOR could act either as a tumor suppressor or as an oncogene in a manner dependent of cellular context or tissue environment. Whether and how DEPTOR regulates lymphomagenesis remains elusive. In this study, we report that in a mouse lymphoma model induced by heterozygous <i>Pten</i> loss, <i>Deptor</i> knockout (KO) markedly accelerates lymphomagenesis, whereas degradation-resistant <i>Deptor</i><sup><i>S275A</i></sup> knock-in (KI) variant significantly inhibits it. Furthermore, <i>Deptor</i> KO mice spontaneously developed lymphomas in the later stages of their lifespan, and <i>Deptor</i> KO further shortened overall lifespan in <i>Pten</i><sup><i>fl/fl</i></sup><i>;MMTV-Cre</i> mice. Consistently, DEPTOR protein levels are significantly lower in human lymphoma tissues, as compared to normal lymph nodes. Mechanistically, DEPTOR, on one hand, enhances the interaction of EGFR to HUWE1 E3 ubiquitin ligase for targeted ubiquitination and proteasomal degradation, and subsequent inactivation of the MAPK signal. On the other hand, DEPTOR inactivates both mTORC1 and mTORC2 signals. Collectively, our study demonstrated that DEPTOR is a tumor suppressor that inhibits lymphomagenesis upon <i>Pten</i>-loss. The strategy that reactivates DEPTOR could be a promising approach for the treatment of lymphoma.</p>","PeriodicalId":9731,"journal":{"name":"Cell Death and Differentiation","volume":"22 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":12.4,"publicationDate":"2025-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143758170","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":"Cell differentiation, aging, and death in spatially organized yeast communities: mechanisms and consequences","authors":"Zdena Palková, Libuše Váchová","doi":"10.1038/s41418-025-01485-9","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1038/s41418-025-01485-9","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Cell death is a natural part of the development of multicellular organisms and is central to their physiological and pathological states. However, the existence of regulated cell death in unicellular microorganisms, including eukaryotic and prokaryotic microbes, has been a topic of debate. One reason for the continued debate is the lack of obvious benefit from cell death in the context of a single cell. However, unicellularity is relative, as most of these microbes dwell in communities of varying complexities, often with complicated spatial organization. In these spatially organized microbial communities, such as yeast and bacterial colonies and biofilms growing on solid surfaces, cells differentiate into specialized types, and the whole community often behaves like a simple multicellular organism. As these communities develop and age, cell death appears to offer benefits to the community as a whole. This review explores the potential roles of cell death in spatially organized communities of yeasts and draws analogies to similar communities of bacteria. The natural dying processes in microbial cell communities are only partially understood and may result from suicidal death genes, (self-)sabotage (without death effectors), or from non-autonomous mechanisms driven by interactions with other differentiated cells. We focus on processes occurring during the stratification of yeast colonies, the formation of the extracellular matrix in biofilms, and discuss potential roles of cell death in shaping the organization, differentiation, and overall physiology of these microbial structures.</p>","PeriodicalId":9731,"journal":{"name":"Cell Death and Differentiation","volume":"95 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":12.4,"publicationDate":"2025-03-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143734071","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}
Guan Wang, Kai Cao, Keli Liu, Yueqing Xue, Arthur I Roberts, Fengying Li, Yanyan Han, Arnold B Rabson, Ying Wang, Yufang Shi
{"title":"Correction: Kynurenic acid, an IDO metabolite, controls TSG-6-mediated immunosuppression of human mesenchymal stem cells.","authors":"Guan Wang, Kai Cao, Keli Liu, Yueqing Xue, Arthur I Roberts, Fengying Li, Yanyan Han, Arnold B Rabson, Ying Wang, Yufang Shi","doi":"10.1038/s41418-025-01484-w","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1038/s41418-025-01484-w","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":9731,"journal":{"name":"Cell Death and Differentiation","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":13.7,"publicationDate":"2025-03-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143742329","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}