Biochemistry explores the intricate chemical processes that power life, bridging the gap between biology and chemistry to explain how molecules like proteins and DNA function within living cells. This field reveals the molecular machinery behind everything from metabolism to genetic inheritance, turning complex biological mysteries into understandable chemical interactions.

On Gist.Science, we bring you the freshest discoveries in this dynamic area directly from bioRxiv. Our team processes every new preprint uploaded to the server, transforming dense academic findings into both clear, plain-language overviews and detailed technical summaries. This dual approach ensures that whether you are a curious beginner or a seasoned researcher, you can grasp the significance of these breakthroughs immediately.

Below are the latest papers in biochemistry, complete with our curated summaries to help you navigate the cutting edge of molecular science.

⚗️ biochemistry

Transposon end recognition and pairing by I-F3 CRISPR-associated transposase

This study elucidates the structural and mechanistic basis of asymmetric transposon end recognition and pairing by the I-F3 CRISPR-associated transposase through cryo-EM analysis, revealing a novel protein-protein interface essential for high-fidelity transposition and offering insights for engineering gene therapy tools.

Truong, V., Miller, D., Fatma, S., Sheng, Y., Pindi, C., Ahsan, M., Palermo, G., Kellogg, E. H.2026-07-10
⚗️ biochemistry

Cell-type-resolved spatial proteogenomics from matched genome and proteome of the same cells

This paper introduces a novel method combining Deep Visual Proteomics with a modified extraction workflow that captures genomic DNA from flowthrough and peptides from the tip, enabling cell-type-resolved spatial proteogenomic analysis of matched genome and proteome data from archival FFPE tissue.

Zwiebel, M., Wahle, M., Stadler, R., Levesque, M. P., Dummer, R., Nordmann, T. M., Mann, M.2026-07-10
⚗️ biochemistry

Coated Bacterial Enzymes: A one-step approach for enzymatic purification and immobilization

This study presents a novel, cost-effective platform called Coated Bacterial Enzymes (CBEs) that achieves one-step purification and immobilization of recombinant enzymes via SlpA domain fusion, resulting in a biocatalyst with enhanced stability, broader pH tolerance, and improved cation resistance compared to free enzymes.

Ramirez Gutierrez, A. C., Harguindeguy, I., Homse, M. S., Sabetta, A. E., Cavalitto, S. F., Ortiz, G. E.2026-07-09
⚗️ biochemistry

Intralysosomal Amyloidogenesis and Proximity Labeling by Cathepsin C

This study reveals that Cathepsin C converts the lysosomal damage agent LLOMe into amyloid fibrils and, upon membrane rupture, utilizes its endogenous dipeptidyl ligase activity to perform the first fully endogenous, non-engineered proximity labeling within the lysosome, thereby uncovering new mechanisms of lysosomal perturbation and a novel tool for studying lysosomal biology.

Elias, R. D., Allen, S., Demiralp, I. I., O'Neill, R. T., Shäfer, J.-H., Siems, H., Montabana, E. A., Ermel, U. H., Ash (…)2026-07-07
⚗️ biochemistry

A cofactor-promiscuous HMGR from the Lyme disease pathogen illuminates diversity in bacterial isoprenoid biosynthesis

This study establishes that the cofactor-promiscuous HMGR enzyme in the Lyme disease pathogen *Borrelia burgdorferi* is essential for peptidoglycan synthesis and represents a promising antibacterial target, while also revealing a previously unrecognized evolutionary link between HMGR diversity and cofactor choice.

Paady, I., McCausland, J., Frazier, M., Chatterjee, P., Setegne, M., Eidam, O., Jacobs-Wagner, C., Dassama, L. M. K.2026-07-07
⚗️ biochemistry

Orbitrap Collision Cross Section Measurements Enhance Isomer Annotations in Lipidomics

This paper introduces a method to infer ion mobility collision cross section (CCS) values directly from standard LC-Orbitrap mass spectrometry data by correcting for solvent-dependent pressure variations using internal standards, thereby enabling high-precision structural annotation of lipid isomers without requiring specialized ion mobility hardware.

Ni, Z., Ayzikov, K., Makarov, A. A., Moore, S., Gaul, D. A., Fort, K. L., Fernandez, F.2026-07-04