Cell Biology

Researchers at Rice University have found that the protein PEX11 not only helps peroxisomes divide but also regulates their size during early plant development. In Arabidopsis seedlings, PEX11 mutants developed abnormally large peroxisomes lacking internal vesicles that normally curb growth. The mechanism appears conserved across species, as yeast Pex11 restored normal function in plant mutants.

9 Mwezi wa nne, 2026 Imeripotiwa na AI Imethibitishwa ukweli

Researchers at Kyoto University and RIKEN report that human cells can detect “non-optimal” synonymous codons—alternative three-letter genetic instructions that encode the same amino acid but are translated less efficiently—and selectively suppress the corresponding mRNAs. In experiments described in Science, the team identifies the RNA-binding protein DHX29 as a central component of this codon-dependent control of gene expression.

Researchers led by Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich have mapped how ribosomes detect collisions during protein synthesis and activate a stress-response pathway via the kinase ZAK. By showing how ZAK recognizes stalled, collided ribosomes, the team’s Nature study highlights the role of the translation machinery in cellular surveillance and protection.

11 Mwezi wa kumi na moja, 2025 Imeripotiwa na AI

Researchers in Japan have identified a new principle explaining why living organisms' growth slows even with abundant nutrients. The global constraint principle integrates classic biological laws to reveal sequential limitations in cellular processes. Verified through E. coli simulations, it could enhance crop yields and biomanufacturing.