H. Zeng

NSP4 mutation T492I drives rapid evolution of SARS-CoV-2 toward Omicron

This study shows that the NSP4 T492I mutation increases SARS-CoV-2 mutation rates and accelerates the emergence of Omicron-like mutations.

Receptor tyrosine kinase inhibition leads to regression of acral melanoma by targeting the tumor microenvironment

This study shows that dual FGFR/VEGFR inhibition causes regression of acral melanoma by targeting the tumor microenvironment rather than directly killing cancer cells.

CPT2 mediated fatty acid oxidation is dispensable for humoral immunity

This study shows that CPT2-mediated fatty acid oxidation is not essential for humoral immunity in mice, as CPT2 deficiency does not impair B cell development, activation, or antibody production.

A resource to enable chemical biology and drug discovery of WDR Proteins

The paper develops a resource for discovering ligands for WDR proteins using experimental and computational methods, leading to the identification of drug-like ligands for 9 out of 20 targets.

PI3K-dependant reprogramming of hexokinase isoforms controls glucose metabolism and functional responses of B lymphocytes

This study shows that PI3K-dependent upregulation of hexokinase 2 (HK2) controls glucose metabolism and immune functions in B cells, with HK2-deficient B cells showing impaired metabolic and functional responses.

The nutrient-sensing Rag-GTPase complex in B cells controls humoral immunity via TFEB/TFE3-dependent mitochondrial fitness

This study shows that Rag-GTPases regulate B cell metabolism and immunity by restraining TFEB/TFE3 to maintain mitochondrial fitness and support T-independent humoral immunity.

PP2A catalytic subunit alpha is critically required for CD8+ T cell homeostasis and anti-bacterial responses

This study shows that PP2A catalytic subunit alpha is essential for CD8+ T cell homeostasis and anti-bacterial responses, with Bcl2 rescue limited to spleen.

Not dasycladalean alga, but an Odyssey of the earliest Phanerozoic animal reef-builders

The paper reclassifies Protomelission? sp. as archaeocyath-like sponges, challenging previous interpretations and providing insights into early animal reef-building.

Sophocarpine inhibits TRP channels to produce anti-pruritic and analgesic effects in a mouse model of inflammatory itch and pain

This study shows that sophocarpine inhibits TRPA1 and TRPV1 channels, reducing itch and pain in a mouse model of inflammatory conditions.

The exogenous application of the apocarotenoid retinaldehyde negatively regulates auxin-mediated root growth

Short-term inhibition of carotenoid biosynthesis increases retinal levels, which reduce auxin levels and signaling to suppress root growth.

The eyelid and pupil dynamics underlying stress levels in awake mice.

This study investigates pupil and eyelid dynamics in awake mice under stress, using deep learning to show consistent decreases in size as indicators of stress and motion artifacts.

Probing the DCAF12 interactions with MAGEA3 and CCT5 C-terminal degrons

This study characterizes DCAF12 interactions with MAGEA3 and CCT5 degrons using biophysical assays and cryo-EM, revealing key residues for degron recognition and informing PROTAC design.

Probing the mechanism of Cbl-b inhibition by a small-molecule inhibitor

The paper investigates how a small-molecule inhibitor binds to and inactivates Cbl-b, revealing a structural mechanism that locks the protein in an inactive conformation.

Low-dose cytokine immunotherapy of solid cancers enabled by phagocytic-competent protein co-crystals

This study demonstrates that PODS-IL-2, a phagocytic-competent protein co-crystal, can deliver low-dose IL-2 effectively for treating melanoma and renal cell carcinoma with improved tolerability.

A Universal Method for Crossing Molecular and Atlas Modalities using Simplex-Based Image Varifolds and Quadratic Programming

This paper introduces a method to align molecular transcriptomics data with tissue atlases using geometric and optimization techniques, enabling integration of diverse datasets into a common coordinate system.

P53 Acetylation Exerts Critical Roles In Pressure Overload Induced Coronary Microvascular Dysfunction and Heart Failure

This study shows that preventing p53 acetylation improves coronary microvascular dysfunction and prevents heart failure in a mouse model of pressure overload.

O-GlcNAc glycosylation orchestrates fate decision and niche function of bone marrow stromal progenitors

This study identifies O-GlcNAc glycosylation as a regulator of bone marrow stromal progenitor fate and niche function, influencing osteogenic/adipogenic differentiation and hematopoiesis.

Resilient CD8+ T cells maintain a high cytotoxic capacity by balancing ROS via ME1 upregulation

This paper identifies CX3CR1+ CD8+ T cells with low mitochondrial membrane potential as functionally resilient, showing high cytotoxicity and reduced ROS through ME1 upregulation, which enhances their anti-tumor activity.

Sucrose rather than GA transported by AtSWEET13 and AtSWEET14 supports pollen fitness at late anther development stages

This study shows that AtSWEET13 and AtSWEET14 transport sucrose, not GA, which is critical for pollen viability and germination during late anther development.

Inducible lncRNA transgenic mice reveal continual role of HOTAIR in promoting breast cancer metastasis

This study uses a transgenic mouse model to show that sustained HOTAIR expression promotes breast cancer metastasis and that its removal reverses metastatic traits, indicating an erasable epigenetic memory.

A Cambrian soft-bodied conical animal illustrates the origins of lophophorate phyla

The paper describes a Cambrian fossil with features of multiple lophophorate phyla, suggesting an intermediate evolutionary position between Phoronida and Brachiopoda.

OsMADS58 stabilizes gene regulatory circuits during rice stamen development

This study identifies OsMADS58's role in stabilizing gene regulatory circuits during rice stamen development using CRISPR knockout and transcriptomic analysis.

Diversity of Treponema denticola and other oral treponeme lineages in subjects with periodontitis and gingivitis

The paper compares the diversity of Treponema denticola and other oral treponeme lineages in periodontitis and gingivitis patients using pyrH gene sequencing.

One viral sequence for each host? - The neglected within-host diversity as the main stage of SARS-CoV-2 evolution

The paper shows that SARS-CoV-2 exhibits substantial within-host genetic diversity, challenging the assumption of low diversity per infected individual and highlighting the importance of studying evolution within hosts.

Vaccination-induced rapid protection against bacterial pneumonia via training alveolar macrophage in mice

This study shows a single intranasal vaccination with inactivated Acinetobacter baumannii rapidly protects mice against pneumonia by training alveolar macrophages, with effects observed against other Gram-negative bacteria but not Gram-positive ones.

Homo-harringtonine (HHT) - A highly effective drug against coronaviruses and the potential for large-scale clinical applications

The paper identifies Homo-harringtonine (HHT) as a potent antiviral drug against coronaviruses, effective in mouse models and safe in dogs, with potential for large-scale clinical use.

mTORC2 contributes to murine systemic autoimmunity

This study shows mTORC2 promotes Tfh differentiation and disrupts Treg homeostasis, contributing to systemic autoimmunity, and suggests mTORC2 as a potential therapeutic target.

A First-in-class, Highly Selective and Cell-active AllostericInhibitor of Protein Arginine Methyltransferase 6 (PRMT6)

This paper reports the discovery of a first-in-class, highly selective allosteric inhibitor of PRMT6, SGC6870, with potent activity and selectivity in vitro and in cells.

Identification of Lysine Isobutyrylation as A New Histone Modification Mark

The paper identifies lysine isobutyrylation as a new histone modification mark and shows its role in epigenetic regulation and cellular physiology.

Machine learning optimization of peptides for presentation by class II MHCs

The paper develops a machine learning method to optimize peptide binding to class II MHCs by modifying anchor residues, validated through a yeast display assay.