Apoptosis, a type of programmed cell death, is essential for staying healthy, and its dysregulation contributes to cancer and developmental disorders. In a recent study, researchers from Japan identified the protein Zbtb38 as a direct regulator of a key apoptosis inhibitor called X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis protein (XIAP). They showed that Zbtb38 activates XIAP independently of other major regulatory mechanisms, revealing a new pathway for controlling cell survival with potential implications for treating apoptosis-resistant cancers.

Some insects and microbes develop symbiotic partnerships, which become so interdependent that they can no longer survive without each other.

But how specific are these heritable symbioses? Is it possible for the same species of bacteria to flourish across different species of insect hosts, or are these partnerships more fixed, honed over millions of years of evolution?

A landmark review published in Targetome establishes targetome as a unifying concept for systematic, synergistic multi‑target intervention, breaks through the limitations of the “one gene, one target, one drug” paradigm, and proposes a three‑stage innovation roadmap to accelerate rational discovery of next‑generation combination drugs for chronic diseases including cancer, cardiovascular, metabolic, and neurodegenerative disorders.

A comprehensive review published in the inaugural issue of Targetome offers a full-spectrum overview of RNA therapeutics, dissecting their mechanisms of action, persistent delivery bottlenecks, cutting-edge delivery technologies, and global clinical progress across a wide range of diseases. The work, led by researchers from China Pharmaceutical University and The First Hospital of Hebei Medical University, clarifies core challenges and highlights transformative strategies to accelerate the clinical translation of RNA-based medicines, a fast-growing class of next-generation therapies.

 

Researchers at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville have uncovered how a molecular “lock” helps ATP synthase—the enzyme that powers nearly all life—efficiently produce cellular energy. By revealing how the enzyme’s structure controls proton flow and energy conversion, the work offers new insight into one of biology’s most fundamental and essential processes.

In cell biology, organelles have long been regarded as the “functional components” within cells. Recent research reveals that organelles are not merely internal “factories”; they can also function as ‘couriers’ between cells through various transfer mechanisms, enabling intercellular communication and functional regulation. This organelle transfer phenomenon resembles an “asset-light transfer” between cells, allowing cells to rapidly acquire necessary “functional components” to adapt to environmental changes. Moreover, the signals carried by these organelles facilitate damage repair or disease progression.