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 Characterization of the Human Neural Stem Cell Line HNSC.100 as a Versatile Model for Neurobiological Research

This paper provides a comprehensive characterization of the immortalized human neural stem cell line HNSC.100, validating its expression of key markers, its ability to differentiate into major neural cell types, and its genetic manipulability, while offering extensive RNA expression data and a curated list of neural disorder-related genes to establish it as a versatile and robust model for neurobiological research.

Jeruzalska, E., Ketteler, C., Stuetzenberger, E., Burczyk, S., Moeller, L., Niessing, D.2026-03-25

📄 cell biology

Geometry shapes cytoplasmic Cdk1 waves that drive cortical dynamics

This study employs a reaction-diffusion model to demonstrate that the geometry of large embryonic cells and localized nuclear activation shape distinct cytoplasmic Cdk1 waves, which subsequently drive cortical contractility by regulating Rho-actin dynamics through Ect2 inhibition.

Cebrian-Lacasa, D., Leda, M., Goryachev, A., Gelens, L.2026-03-24

📄 cell biology

STING-STAT3-SOX18 Axis Drives EndMT and Epigenetic Reprogramming in SAVI Lung Fibrosis

This study reveals that gain-of-function STING1 mutations in SAVI patients drive pulmonary fibrosis by triggering a non-canonical cGAS-STING-STAT3 signaling axis that induces endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition through SLUG activation and epigenetic silencing of SOX18, independent of TGF-beta.

Yang, D., Chen, G., Gaurav, S., de Jesus, A. A., Mehta, A. K., McNinch, C., Miranda, A. X., Wei, J., Kedei, N., Hernande (…)2026-03-24

📄 cell biology

Hsp70 is phosphorylated in a conserved response to DNA damage and contributes to cell cycle control

This study reveals that DNA damage triggers the conserved phosphorylation of Hsp70 at threonine 495, which locks the chaperone in an open conformation to regulate G1/S cell cycle progression and delay division until repair is complete.

Moss, T., Wooldredge, A., Bhakta, K., Cronin, M., Gestwicki, J. E., Mukherjee, S.2026-03-23

📄 cell biology

A human lysosomal storage disorder toolkit for decoding proteome landscapes in cortical and dopaminergic-like induced neurons

This study presents a human embryonic stem cell toolkit lacking 23 lysosomal storage disorder genes, coupled with multi-omics analyses and cryo-electron tomography, to define distinct proteomic signatures, mitochondrial vulnerabilities, and synaptic defects in cortical and dopaminergic neurons.

Kraus, F., He, Y., Jiang, Y., Li, D., Ambaw, Y. A., Gasparoli, F. M., Paulo, J. A., Walther, T. C., Farese, R., Gygi, S. (…)2026-03-23

📄 cell biology

Layered Single-Cell Heterogeneity in Hormone Receptor Signaling Across Mouse Organoids and Human ERα+ Cancer Cells

This study reveals that single-cell variability in hormone response magnitude within mammary organoids and human ERα+ cancer cells is driven not by receptor abundance alone, but by the balance of transcriptional co-regulators and distinct activation kinetics.

Yasar, P., Day, C. R., Bennett, B. D., Hoffman, J. A., Kammel, L. G., Archer, T. K., Rodriguez, J.2026-03-23

📄 cell biology

Activation of the protective arm of renin-angiotensin system enhances mitochondrial turnover improving respiration and decreasing integrated stress response in a human Complex III deficiency model.

The study demonstrates that CAP-1902, a novel MasR agonist, acts as a mitophagy inducer that enhances mitochondrial turnover by activating the AMPK/ULK1/FUNDC1 pathway and stimulating biogenesis, thereby rescuing bioenergetic defects and reducing the integrated stress response in human fibroblasts with Complex III deficiency.

Fernandez-Del-Rio, L., Eastes, A., Rincon Fernandez-Pacheco, D., Scillitani, N., Garza, J., Dugan, M., Pinto de Oliveira (…)2026-03-23

📄 cell biology

Nucleus confinement within concave microcavities modulates nuclear morphology, subnuclear dynamics and mechanotransduction in human osteosarcoma cells

This study demonstrates that nucleus-scale concave microcavities, which mimic the bone microenvironment, induce adaptive nuclear rounding, chromatin compaction, and selective YAP/TAZ-mediated mechanotransduction in human osteosarcoma cells without triggering inflammatory or apoptotic pathways.

Tahmaz, I., Borghi, F. F., Milan, J. L., Kunemann, P., Petithory, T., Bendimerad, M., Luchnikov, V., Anselme, K., Pieuch (…)2026-03-23

📄 cell biology

miR-378a and NPNT coordinate autophagy regulation in podocytes through mTOR and MAPK signaling

This study reveals that miR-378a and NPNT coordinately regulate podocyte autophagy through distinct mechanisms, with miR-378a enhancing flux via mTOR inhibition and NPNT modulating it through MAPK-dependent signaling, offering new insights into the molecular drivers of glomerular diseases.

Sopel, N., Wangerin, S.-M., Hecker, M., Ohs, A., Mueller-Deile, J.2026-03-21

📄 cell biology

A NAPE-LRRK2 metabolic axis controls lysosomal homeostasis in Parkinson's disease

This study identifies N-acylphosphatidylethanolamines (NAPEs) as endogenous regulators that inhibit LRRK2 kinase activity to restore lysosomal homeostasis and clear alpha-synuclein aggregates, revealing a promising metabolic axis for Parkinson's disease therapeutics.

Palese, F., Giachino, C., Syan, S., Ottonello, G., Sciandrone, G., Filipponi, C., Lai, M., Armirotti, A., Deleidi, M., Z (…)2026-03-21

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