Excited to be at the @bscb-official.bsky.social Dynamic Cell conference this week! Happy to chat about publishing in @jcellsci.bsky.social or to tell you more about the charitable activities of @biologists.bsky.social.
#notforprofit
#cellbiology
Conference table with giveaways, posters, a Company of Biologists logo on the table cloth and roller banners at the back promoting JCS and Open Access publishing.
We’re all set up and ready for Dynamic Cell VI in Reading. Looking forward to talking to you all over the next few days
@bscb-official.bsky.social @biochemsoc.bsky.social @jcellsci.bsky.social
@focalplane.bsky.social
This article is available under our Read & Publish Open Access initiative.
Researchers can find out about the wide range of benefits, read what researchers are saying and view a list of participating institutions at www.biologists.com/library-hub/...
#OpenAccess #ReadandPublish
Figure showing that GAK disruption induces stress fibre formation.
Masaki Hiramoto and colleagues discover that GAK antagonises ROCK-dependent regulation of actomyosin dynamics.
journals.biologists.com/jcs/article/...
#OpenAccess #ReadandPublish
New paper out! Looking at RNA-related pathways in neuronal remodeling, we found UAP56, an mRNA export factor. Actin disassembly is a likely target, both in dendrites and at presynapses. Also: cofilin is required for presynapse pruning. Please check out - journals.biologists.com/jcs/article/...
Figure showing that DGA1 and LRO1 deletion combined with Plc1 overexpression leads to an additional suppression of Rer1 mislocalization in the ret1-1 mutant that is greater than that in ret1-1 dga1Δ lro1Δ cells.
Yujia Yang, Shuyin Yang, Shiori Ito, Kouichi Funato and colleagues discover that retrograde Golgi-to-ER transport is regulated by diacylglycerol in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.
journals.biologists.com/jcs/article/...
Why choose JCS?
- FREE to publish (with OA options available)
- Fast-track option for papers with reports
- Submissions handled by Academic Editors
- Published by a not-for-profit publisher
- A tree planted for every peer-reviewed article🌳
Find out more at:
journals.biologists.com/jcs/pages/re...
Tree no. 16716 Wild cherry (Prunus avium) Medium-sized, fast-growing deciduous tree, native to the UK and Europe. It has a deep-reddish brown bark and cream-coloured lenticels. The oval, toothed leaves have pointed tips and two red glands on the stalk. A hermaphrodite species, it blossoms early in spring and produces white, cup-shaped flowers, pollinated by insects to develop deep-red cherries. The fruit is eaten by several birds and mammals that then disperse the seed in their droppings. A pioneer light-demanding species, wild cherry quickly colonizes glades and clearings. However, it is often outcompeted by other hardwoods later, and is thus extensively used for afforestation of agricultural land. The trees favour full sunlight and moist to well-drained fertile soil, including slightly acidic or calcareous conditions. Wild cherry is susceptible to bacterial cankers, and pruning wounds can allow fungal infection leading to silver leaf disease.
This article is associated with a wild cherry tree, planted in The Forest of Biologists.
forest.biologists.com/landscape/
Scanning electron micrographs showing that OHC stereocilia loss is increased in Atoh1cre/+; Nclloxp/loxp mice.
Wen Zong, Keji Yan, Zhigang Xu and colleagues find that nucleolin is essential for hair cell stereocilia maintenance and auditory function in mice.
Highlight: journals.biologists.com/jcs/article/...
Article: journals.biologists.com/jcs/article/...
🌱🔬We’re exciting to be hosting a new webinar series on quantitative plant imaging with @ajcellbio.bsky.social & @joemckenna.bsky.social. The first webinar will be on 30 April at 15:00 BST.
For more info and to sign up to our mailing list or volunteer to give a talk ⤵️
Beyond proteins and DNA, #lipids are emerging as key players in nuclear biology - shaping nuclear envelope dynamics, mechanosensing, gene regulation and genome stability.
Our new Perspective highlights recent advances, open questions, and future directions 👉 journals.biologists.com/jcs/article/...
Tree no. 16695 Dog rose (Rosa canina) Deciduous, fast-growing climbing shrub that adds colour to the forest. Native to Britain, Europe and western Asia. The stems are covered with small, strongly hooked or curved prickles to gain purchase as it weaves in between other shrubs and into the crowns of taller trees. The leaves are pinnate with several pairs of smaller toothed leaflets. Dog rose flowers are large and white or pink, with five petals and many stamens, and mature into striking red, oval, berry-like hips that form in clusters.
This article is associated with a dog rose, planted in The Forest of Biologists.
forest.biologists.com/landscape/
Figure showing that plumbagin affects the formation of the mitotic spindle.
Valentina Sirri, Antoine Vidal and Pascal Roussel find that sirtuin inhibition by plumbagin connects protein acetylation to cell division.
journals.biologists.com/jcs/article/...
🚨 Paper Alert! In this new work published in @jcellsci.bsky.social we shift our focus on MTFR1L and the feedback loop linking mitochondrial fission, mitophagy and apoptosis. MTFR1L emerges as a critical coordinator of the fission and autophagy machinery.
🔗Find the paper here: doi.org/10.1242/jcs....
KEYSTONE SYMPOSIA IMMUNOMETABOLISM ACROSS SCALES: FROM CELLS TO SYSTEMS TO HEALTHSPAN Couldn’t attend live? Want ongoing access? Tap expert insights & stay ahead with the latest research & trends, on demand-anytime, anywhere. REGISTER FOR ON DEMAND #KSIMMUNOMETAB26
Register for On Demand Access to @keystoneSymposia.bsky.social #Immunometabolism Across Scales to explore emerging research
#KSImmunometab26
Visit hubs.la/Q03VtRfZ0 and click on Pricing & Registration
Tree no. 16696 Sessile oak (Quercus petraea) Sessile oak Tall deciduous broadleaf tree, native to much of Europe and commonly found in hilly areas. Its leaves are dark green and shallow lobed, with a long stalk. Male flowers are green catkins and female flowers resemble red buds, found in the same tree (monoecy). After pollination by wind, female flowers develop into acorns. Sessile oak is windfirm, cold hardy and tolerant to drought, and grows well on soils with low nutrients. It can suffer from acute oak decline, resulting in rapid dieback. Oak trees support more wildlife than any other tree – various birds and animals eat the acorns; caterpillars eat the flowers and leaves; and mosses, lichens and liverworts grow on the bark. Fallen leaves form a rich leaf mould in autumn, supporting the forest floor ecosystem.
This article is associated with a sessile oak tree, planted in The Forest of Biologists.
forest.biologists.com/landscape/
An overview of mechanosensors and mechanoregulatory proteins in endothelial cells. Several mechanosensitive ion channels contribute to sensing shear stress in the endothelium. Apex mechanosensors, such as PIEZO1, can detect a variety of forces in different subcellular locations. Upon force activation, PIEZO1 undergoes a conformational change that causes the plasma membrane to flatten and the ion pore to open (top right). PIEZO1 is inherently mechanosensitive but can also interact with other mechanoregulatory proteins, such as the adhesion molecules PECAM-1 and VE-cadherin (CDH5), at cell–cell junctions (bottom left). Other flow-sensitive mechanoregulatory factors in endothelial cells include TGFβ receptors, GPCRs, primary cilia and the glycocalyx. In addition, EC plasma membrane fluidity responds to shear stress, activating downstream metabolic pathways. Created in BioRender by Chuntharpursat, E., 2026. https://BioRender.com/7c9twsy. This figure was sublicensed under CC-BY 4.0 terms.
Eulashini Chuntharpursat-Bon, Suowen Xu, Paul Evans and colleagues review our current knowledge on endothelial shear stress sensing and highlight key unanswered questions that will shape future research in vascular biology and disease.
journals.biologists.com/jcs/article/...
Cellular landscape of membrane stress-associated remodeling and repair. The figure highlights major responses to PM or organellar damage. Ca2+-dependent processes are indicated. (A) Ca2+-regulated exocytosis supplies membrane for PM repair, including via Ca2+-responsive dysferlin-containing vesicles, VAMP-mediated early endosomes (through unknown Ca2+ effectors), and lysosomes (via Ca2+-dependent Syt VII). (B) Non-vesicular lipid transfer by LTPs at ER-based MCSs is activated by membrane stress to preserve membrane integrity. Proteins involved include sterol transporter GRAMD1 proteins and glycerolipid transporters E-Syts at ER–PM MCSs; at ER–lysosome MCSs, ORPs exchange PI4P and sterols, while the bridge-like LTP ATG2 acts as a PS effector. VAPs serve as conserved tethers at these sites. (C) Ca2+-activated lipid scrambling drives PM bleb formation (preceding extracellular vesicle release and macropinocytosis) and triggers lysosomal intraluminal vesicles to support membrane repair. PS scrambling occurs via TMEM16E or TMEM16F (TMEM16E/F) at the PM; SM scrambling at lysosomal membranes occurs via an unknown lysosomal scramblase. Ca2+ influx recruits ESCRT-III via the adaptor ALG-2 to constrict and reseal PM and lysosomal lesions. (D) Ca2+-independent ESCRT-III recruited by CHMP7 seals physiological NE openings during mitosis. (E) Low pH-induced stress granule condensates transiently occlude lysosomal membrane lesions to limit leakage prior to repair. Red crosses denote PM wounds; arrows show event sequence.
In their Review, Baicong Mu and Dan Zhang @jessiezhangsg.bsky.social discuss how membranes function as mechano-chemical integrators, coupling lipid properties, protein effectors & Ca2+ signalling to sense stress, remodel membranes & activate repair pathways.
journals.biologists.com/jcs/article/...
Figure showing that TEM and vEM reveal mitochondrial ultrastructure and organelle interactions.
Also in Issue 6:
- Research Highlights on kinesin-1, Capicua & endosomal fission
- Editorial on publishing costs
- JCS-David Stephens Prize
- Helene Knævelsrud interview
- Microscopy in mitochondrial research
- Review on microtubules in cardiac mechanobiology
journals.biologists.com/jcs/issue/13...
JCS cover: Three-dimensional image of a THP1-derived macrophage interacting with a planar apoptotic cell mimic comprising Gas6 and MFG-E8 microprinted as 3 μm diameter dots (blue) on a glass coverslip. The macrophage has been stained for the plasma membrane (wheat germ agglutinin–Alexa Fluor 647, red), β2 integrin (green) and phosphorylated (active) Src-family kinases (orange). The grid has 10 μm increments. See article by B. H. Dickson, T. Tasnim et al. (jcs264792).
Issue 6 is complete
Explore our Toc: journals.biologists.com/jcs/issue/13...
Our cover image shows a THP1-derived macrophage interacting with a planar apoptotic cell mimic (blue) microprinted on a glass coverslip. See article by Dickson, Tasnim et al.
journals.biologists.com/jcs/article/...
Fantastic talks at the ‘Architecting Life’ symposium @tsinghuauniversity.bsky.social, including some from our own Academic Editors @jcellsci.bsky.social!
(@drmichaelway.bsky.social, @roylab-ucsd.bsky.social , @guijacquemet.bsky.social )
Excited to be attending the Annual Meeting of the Chinese Society for Cell Biology in Hefei next week! If you’re going and would like to connect or find out more about @jcellsci.bsky.social or @biologists.bsky.social, please get in touch!
Jason Casler
The winner of our 2025 JCS-David Stephens Prize is Jason Casler @jasoncasler.bsky.social for his paper entitled ‘Mitochondria plasma membrane contact sites regulate the ER mitochondria encounter structure’ with Laura Lackner @lllackner.bsky.social.
journals.biologists.com/jcs/article/...
TEM and vEM reveal mitochondrial ultrastructure and organelle interactions.
In their Review, Prasanna Katti, Antentor Hinton, Jr and colleagues discuss how imaging techniques have advanced our understanding of mitochondrial biology.
journals.biologists.com/jcs/article/...
Structural components for mechanosensing in a mature cardiomyocyte. (A) Sarcomere shortening. Actin–myosin motor interactions shorten sarcomere units, causing hierarchical shortening at the cell & tissue level. (B) Titin elasticity. The elastic titin spring provides passive tension to resist overstretching of the sarcomere. (C) Transmembrane force transmission. Integrins & other adhesion complexes relay tensile signals intracellularly from the ECM. (D) Mechanosensitive ion channels. Tension-mediated ion channels regulate cardiomyocyte contraction through controlling Ca2+ tropomyosin binding and regulation of action potential. (E) Perinuclear microtubule cage. A dense microtubule network surrounds the nucleus, shielding it from mechanical loads and redistributing forces throughout the cell. (F) Microtubule buckling. Microtubules anchored at Z-discs undergo buckling during contraction. Created in BioRender by Murphy, J., 2026. This figure was sublicensed under CC-BY 4.0 terms.
In their Review, Jack Murphy and Xuan Li highlight the roles of the microtubule cytoskeletal network in cardiac mechanobiology.
journals.biologists.com/jcs/article/...
Figure showing that Cic activity in vivo correlates with the degree of phosphosite substitution.
Sayantanee Paul, Khandan Ilkhani, Nathan Strozewski, Alexey Veraksa @veraksa.bsky.social & team discover that ERK inhibits Capicua repressor function via multisite phosphorylation.
Highlight: journals.biologists.com/jcs/article/...
Article: journals.biologists.com/jcs/article/...
#OpenAccess
Excited to be heading to Paris next week for @embo.org Structure and Function of the #Cytoskeleton! Please say hi if you're around and want to chat about publishing, @jcellsci.bsky.social or any of @biologists.bsky.social grants and community initiatives!
share.google/P4XMcNbsHnog...
Ajay Murakonda
Read more about this research in our ‘First person’ interview with Ajay Murakonda: journals.biologists.com/jcs/article/...
Figure showing that overexpression of MICAL2 decreases endosomal branched actin.
Ajay Murakonda, Naava Naslavsky and Steve Caplan find that MICAL2 regulates endosomal fission through actin disassembly.
Highlight: journals.biologists.com/jcs/article/...
Article: journals.biologists.com/jcs/article/...
🥁Calling all Cilia & Centrosome enthusiasts! Registration for the UK Cilia & Centrosome Network Spring meeting in Leeds is open. A homecoming to the place where '9+2' was discovered!
Great opportunity for trainees + ECRs to share work + get community feedback.
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/uk-cilia-c...