structural-biology

Nature Communications, Published online: 16 June 2026; doi:10.1038/s41467-026-74427-9 SMCHD1 is a key player in X chromosome inactivation in mammals and has been linked to two human disorders. Here, the authors present insight into SMCHD1’s mode of interaction and functionality at its target sites.

Nature Cell Biology, Published online: 16 June 2026; doi:10.1038/s41556-026-02017-4 Author Correction: MISO regulates mitochondrial dynamics and mtDNA homeostasis by establishing membrane subdomains

Advances in structural biology have allowed scientists to determine molecular structures with atomic-level detail, sometimes yielding static snapshots that do not reflect the dynamism of proteins. However, these motions are often crucial for biological function. Researchers from the Institute of Science and Technology Austria (ISTA), together with international collaborators, have now combined se…

A new single-protein analysis technique gives researchers an unprecedented ability to study proteins called scramblases, which have critical roles in biology.

Building models to understand how self-organizing structures in cells lead to disease

Alice Stanton’s friends call her a brain engineer. It’s an apt title for the scientist who developed the first complete tissue model of the human brain, with blood vessels and all six major cell types, including neurons and immune cells. She also has created a brain-on-a-chip, a version of her full-size model that’s smaller than a mustard seed. Stanton wants to use these mini brains to better und…

Nature Communications, Published online: 15 June 2026; doi:10.1038/s41467-026-73844-0 F1-ATPase is a rotary motor protein essential for cellular energy transduction. Here the authors develop a thermodynamically consistent Markov model that quantitatively matches experimental data and reconciles prior controversies over its catalytic pathways and inherent stochasticity.

Nature Communications, Published online: 15 June 2026; doi:10.1038/s41467-026-74109-6 The lattice architecture of the HIV capsid holds the key to understanding its biophysical properties and function. Li et al. introduce a geometric criterion revealing its implications for molecular frustration, lattice anomalies and cofactor binding.

Collagen is often described as the body’s natural scaffolding. It gives strength and structure to skin, bones, tendons, organs, and many other tissues. For decades, biology textbooks have shown collagen as a long, stiff, rod-shaped molecule. But a surprising new study suggests that picture is only part of the story. Researchers at the Center for […] The post Our body’s most abundant protein behav…

Collagen, the protein that builds skin, bones, tendons and organs, exists inside cells as a liquid-like droplet rather than the long, rigid rod seen in textbooks over the last half century, according to a new study from the Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG) in Barcelona.

It offers researchers an unprecedented view of one of the most complex regions of the brain

Tiny lab-grown brain models and the particles they release may reveal hidden differences among Alzheimer’s patients. Personalized treatment remains one of the biggest challenges in Alzheimer’s disease. Two patients can receive the same medication for symptoms such as depression, anxiety, or agitation and experience very different outcomes, leaving doctors with few ways to predict who [...]

Nature Communications, Published online: 12 June 2026; doi:10.1038/s41467-026-74199-2 Ribosomes are crucial for protein synthesis and managing cellular stress. Here, authors show that ribosomal protein L11 acts as a global regulator, coordinating complex internal signaling to ensure proper bacterial survival during environmental stress.

Origami masters turn simple sheets of paper into ornate sculptures. In the origami of life, our cells must fold proteins into specific three-dimensional shapes before they can carry out their biological jobs.

In a landmark achievement in biological imaging, researchers at the University of California, Berkeley and Biohub today announced the successful demonstration of the laser phase plate, a novel device that dramatically improves the contrast of images produced by cryo-electron microscopes, opening up an entirely new view of human biology.

A new Northwestern Medicine study has demonstrated that proteins studied in simplified laboratory conditions don’t behave the same way in the human body, according to the study published in Nature Structural and Molecular Biology. The post Physiological Factors Reshape How Drugs and Proteins Interact appeared first on News Center .

Nature Cell Biology, Published online: 11 June 2026; doi:10.1038/s41556-026-01986-w Zollo et al. examine DRP1 behaviour at mitochondria: DRP1 diffuses along mitochondria in helical-like patterns influenced by MID49/MID51, scanning the organelle surface and stalling at preconstricted fission sites.

Nature Cell Biology, Published online: 11 June 2026; doi:10.1038/s41556-026-01985-x Wang, Liang and colleagues show that the TEAD1 transcription factor can organize micrometre-sized nuclear biomolecular condensates independently of active transcription. TEAD1 condensates may act as depots for excess TEAD1.