cell biology papers | Gist.Science

Cell biology is the study of life at its most fundamental unit: the cell. This field explores how these microscopic building blocks function, communicate, and replicate to sustain living organisms, from the simplest bacteria to complex human tissues. By understanding the machinery inside a cell, scientists unlock secrets about growth, disease, and the very nature of existence itself.

At Gist.Science, we track every new preprint uploaded to bioRxiv within this dynamic category. Our team processes each submission to provide both accessible plain-language explanations and detailed technical summaries, ensuring you can grasp complex discoveries without getting lost in dense jargon. Below are the latest papers in cell biology, offering a fresh look at the inner workings of life as they are shared with the world.

📄 cell biology

Comprehensive BioImaging Study of the Red Permanent Marker Ink: Re-purposing for Cells Imaging Including Cytoplasmic Membrane Visualization and Comparison with Rhodamine 6G, Deep Red Cell Mask, and DiBAC

This paper introduces ABDS, a novel, safe, and easily prepared fluorescent dye derived from red permanent marker ink that effectively visualizes both the cytoplasmic membrane and endoplasmic reticulum of eukaryotic cells, offering a high-contrast, stable alternative to commercial dyes like Rhodamine 6G and DiBAC.

Abelit, A. A., Boitsiva, N. A., Kornev, A. A., Yakovleva, L. E., Stupin, D. D.2026-04-15

📄 cell biology

NPP-21/TPR is required for developmental control of spindle checkpoint strength in C. elegans

This study demonstrates that the conserved nucleoporin NPP-21/TPR is essential for developmental regulation of spindle checkpoint strength in *C. elegans* germline cells by concentrating PCH-2 around mitotic chromosomes and promoting Mad2 localization to unattached kinetochores.

Gallagher, N., Brown, S., Duprat, V., Köhler, S., Dernburg, A. F., Bhalla, N.2026-04-15

📄 cell biology

GPI lipid remodeling regulates lipophagy by forming lipid domains in response to glucose deprivation

This study reveals that glucose starvation triggers GPI lipid remodeling to supply specific lipids for vacuolar liquid-ordered domain formation via endocytosis, a process essential for regulating lipophagy and preventing lipid droplet accumulation in budding yeast.

Matsunaga, K., Hanaoka, K., Yang, Y., Nishii, H., Romero, A. C., Martin, S. L., Muniz, M., Funato, K.2026-04-15

📄 cell biology

Endosomal hitchhiking and NDR kinase signaling coordinate SsdA-mRNP localization

This study reveals that in *Aspergillus nidulans*, SsdA-containing mRNPs are transported bidirectionally along microtubules via endosomal hitchhiking and are spatially regulated by NDR kinase CotA signaling to control their distribution relative to hyphal growth rates.

Modaffari, D., Wallace, E. W. J., Sawin, K. E.2026-04-15

📄 cell biology

Senescent myoblasts exhibit ROS-dependent Akt-mTORC1 dysregulation and are susceptible to reductive stress-induced cell death.

This study reveals that senescent myoblasts maintain mTORC1 activity through a ROS-dependent PI3K/Akt pathway rather than lysosomal nutrient liberation, and while antioxidants can suppress their pro-inflammatory phenotype and restore differentiation, prolonged treatment induces reductive stress-mediated cell death, highlighting redox modulation as a key mechanism for senotherapeutic strategies.

Belhac, V., Dillingham, A., Coward, E., Teal, B., Turner, M., Gagnon, S. D., Qian, J., Wilford, H., Warren, E., Moger, N (…)2026-04-14

📄 cell biology

Subtype-specific secretion of extracellular vesicles by LRRK2 and Rab GTPases under lysosomal stress

Under lysosomal stress, the Parkinson's disease-associated kinase LRRK2 activates distinct Rab GTPase pathways to drive the subtype-specific secretion of extracellular vesicles containing endolysosomal components, thereby revealing a novel mechanism for stress-induced exocytosis.

Sakurai, M., Kuwahara, T., Suenaga, S., Takatori, S., Tomita, T., Shalit, T., Tengstrand, E., Hsieh, F., Iwatsubo, T.2026-04-14

📄 cell biology

Tubulin Monoglutamylation is Sufficient to Rescue the Ciliary Motility Defects in a Chlamydomonas Polyglutamylation Deficient Mutant

This study demonstrates that short-chain tubulin glutamylation, regulated by the deglutamylase CCP5, is sufficient to rescue ciliary motility defects in *Chlamydomonas* mutants lacking long-chain polyglutamylation, revealing that minimal glutamylation can support dynein-driven microtubule sliding.

Sasaki, R., Oda, T., Kubo, T.2026-04-13

📄 cell biology

CENP-B binds hairpin motifs in chromosome arms influencing gene expression

This study reveals that CENP-B, traditionally known for its centromeric role, also binds to hairpin motifs in negatively supercoiled DNA at gene promoters along chromosome arms to regulate gene expression independently of the canonical B box motif.

Wu, L., Lane, K. A., Muhammad, R., Harrod, A., Naughton, C., Wang, H., Musacchio, A., Gilbert, N., Alfieri, C., Downs, J (…)2026-04-13

📄 cell biology

SETD6-mediated methylation of PPARγ establishes a transcriptional feedback circuit promoting lipid accumulation in liver-derived cells

This study reveals that the methyltransferase SETD6 mono-methylates PPARγ at lysine 170 to enhance its chromatin binding and transcriptional activity, establishing a positive feedback loop that drives hepatic lipid accumulation and offers new insights into NAFLD mechanisms.

Nashnaz, N., Goldberg, D., Abramov, M., Chopra, A., Muallem, H., Haim, Y., Feldman, M., Rudich, A., Levy, D.2026-04-13

📄 cell biology

Sorcin couples Annexin A11 recruitment and ESCRT-III assembly during plasma membrane repair

This study identifies sorcin as a critical factor that bridges annexin A11-mediated calcium sensing and ESCRT-III assembly to facilitate plasma membrane repair, revealing a mechanistic link between cellular damage response and viral budding pathways.

Ngo, J. M., Williams, J. K., Murugupandiyan, A., Schekman, R.2026-04-13

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