If severe DNA damage is not repaired, the consequences for the health of cells and tissues are dramatic. A study led by researchers at Goethe University Frankfurt, part of the Rhine-Main University Alliance, shows that the failure of a key DNA repair enzyme called SPRTN not only results in genetic damage, but also triggers chronic inflammatory responses that accelerate aging and lead to developmental abnormalities. The findings shed light on the rare hereditary disorder Ruijs-Aalfs syndrome and may open new avenues for therapeutic intervention.

Feeling safe and well-being at school are linked. Girls often thrive better than boys. Why is that?

Accurately isolating individual cells from complex biological samples is essential for modern biomedical research, yet existing sorting technologies face trade-offs between precision, flexibility, and cell viability. 

Researchers in China comprehensively identified 54 AhPR10 genes in cultivated peanut, phylogenetically classified into eight distinct subgroups with supported gene structure and motif conservation. Segmental duplication was identified as the primary driver for the expansion of the AhPR10 gene family, as revealed by chromosomal distribution and synteny analysis. The recombinant AhPR10-33 protein demonstrated significant antifungal activity by inhibiting Aspergillus flavus mycelial growth in vitro, highlighting its potential role in pathogen resistance.

A global study published in Frontiers of Biogeography reveals that zoantharians (marine hexacorals) are defying long-held views of marine biogeography. Despite the vast distance between the Atlantic and Indo-Pacific, research shows surprisingly narrow genetic and morphological divergence between zoantharians in these two oceans. As climate change impacts traditional stony corals, zoantharians are increasingly filling these ecological niches. A key highlight of this international research is the establishment of a global atlas for zoantharians to help us understand the future of marine ecosystems amid environmental change.

Researchers have discovered that natural “sunscreen” compounds found in algae and cyanobacteria may also support skin and heart health. By comparing two mycosporine-like amino acids, the team showed for the first time that these molecules can block a key enzyme involved in blood pressure control in laboratory tests, while also offering antioxidant and anti-aging effects. The findings open new possibilities for cosmetics and functional foods based on nature-derived ingredients.

A comprehensive new review paper reveals the staggering loss of biodiversity among island land snails globally. The authors note that ‘devastation’ is not a hyperbolic term, pointing out that extinction rates on high volcanic islands commonly range from 30% to as high as 80%.

The highly abundant marine bacterial clade SAR11 has evolved to thrive with limited nutrient resources. However, when nutrient levels increase, SAR11 is often unable to cope. It continues to replicate DNA as it normally would when it divides, but the the cells never divide, causing them to enlarge and die.