Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences

Abstract Mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling pathway controls eukaryotic growth by regulating metabolism, translation, autophagy and cell cycle. Genetic deletion of renal mTORC1 led to a Fanconi-like syndrome with reduction of the renal cortex, tubular epithelial transport and perturbation of the endocytic machinery. Although the main scavenger receptor megalin remained unaltered, a …

Abstract SOX10 is essential for melanocyte development and maintenance and plays a critical role in uveal melanoma (UM) initiation and progression. While SOX10’s transcriptional regulation of protein-coding genes is well characterized, its role on microRNA (miRNA) regulatory landscape in UM remains unexplored. Here, we employed network-based modeling to systematically characterize miRNA regulator…

Human adenovirus type 55 (HAdV55), an emerging recombinant pathogen linked to severe respiratory outbreaks, exhibits heightened virulence and replication efficiency, yet its mechanisms of host interaction remain poorly resolved. Here, we integrate transcriptomic and 3D genomic analyses to define the spatiotemporal interplay between HAdV55 and A549 cells. Temporal profiling revealed triphasic host…

Tunneling nanotubes (TNTs) are thin, actin-based conduits that provide direct cytoplasmic continuity between cells, enabling the transfer of ions, proteins, organelles, and pathogens. Although discovered nearly two decades ago, the molecular mechanisms that govern TNT biogenesis are only beginning to be resolved. Recent studies have highlighted two main formation modes: filopodia-like protrusion …

Adipose tissue, is a core regulator of metabolic homeostasis, whose dysfunction plays a crucial role in metabolic diseases such as obesity and diabetes. Additionally, the browning of adipose tissue is important for thermogenesis and metabolic processes. In recent years, the RNA epigenetic modification N6-methyladenosine (m6A) has been shown to dynamically regulate adipocyte differentiation, lipid…

Tubulin, a key component of the microtubule (MT) cytoskeleton, interacts with the mitochondrial gatekeeper protein VDAC1. Using a peptide array, we identified four VDAC1-binding sites in α-tubulin-1B. Synthetic peptides corresponding to these sequences bound purified VDAC1, disrupted MT polymerization and structure, and impaired MT function. In cells, the peptides disrupted the MT network, reduce…

T cell receptor (TCR) signaling is critically dependent on the Src-family kinase Lck, whose activation is tightly regulated both spatially and conformationally during antigen recognition. Here, we employ an improved second-generation FRET-based biosensor (TqLckV2.3) to visualize Lck conformational dynamics in live T cells with high spatial resolution. Upon TCR engagement, we observe a paradoxical…

Abstract Hormone-dependent cancers such as prostate, breast, and endometrial carcinomas rely on nuclear hormone receptors to sustain lineage identity and growth. Therapies targeting androgen, estrogen, or progesterone signaling are initially effective but ultimately impose selective pressures that drive resistance through lineage plasticity, the ability of tumor cells to abandon their native iden…