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

Morula complementation restores fetal kidneys in xenocompatible SALL1 null sheep

This study demonstrates that domestic sheep can serve as a host for generating donor-derived kidneys by using SALL1-null, xenoantigen-free embryos and restoring organogenesis through morula complementation with donor cells, thereby establishing a new proof-of-concept model for in vivo human organ generation.

Appleby, S. J., Fermin, L. M., Delaney, S., Wei, J., Meng, F., Turner, P., Wells, D. N., Davidson, A. J., Oback, B.2026-07-20
📄 cell biology

Functional characterization of a cytosolic malic enzyme crucial for pyridine nucleotide homeostasis, redox balance, and virulence in Leishmania major

This study identifies and characterizes LmME2 as the first cytosolic malic enzyme in *Leishmania major*, demonstrating that its loss disrupts pyridine nucleotide homeostasis and redox balance, thereby impairing parasite survival and virulence and highlighting it as a promising drug target.

Pal, A., Modak, D., Khan, F., Mondal, D. K., Gourinath, S., Datta, R.2026-07-17
📄 cell biology

Sustained epigenetic rejuvenation of serially engrafting human iPSC-derived HSCs

This study demonstrates that human iPSC-derived hematopoietic stem cells retain a sustained, youthful epigenetic identity and restored telomere length across differentiation and serial transplantation, independent of donor age, thereby establishing a framework for regenerative medicine applications.

Jain, A., Li, J., Yu, X., Opejin, A., Yu, D., Trapp, A., Tumiel, J., Chiang, Z., Pastrana, E., Polanco, C., Pachas, J. (…)2026-07-17
📄 cell biology

Phosphorylation of the AP2 μ2 subunit by p70S6 kinase facilitates clathrin-mediated endocytosis.

This study demonstrates that p70S6 kinase phosphorylates the AP2 μ2 subunit at serine 45 to facilitate clathrin-mediated endocytosis by modulating the conformational dynamics of the AP2 complex, thereby enhancing the internalization of key cell-surface receptors.

Tempes, A., Brzozowska, A., Wegierski, T., Fasemire, A., Olek, K., Jastrzebski, K., Liszewska, E., Misztal, K., Machnick (…)2026-07-16
📄 cell biology

A proteomic and phosphoproteomic comparison of mouse spermatogonial stem cells and progenitor spermatogonia

This study establishes the first comprehensive proteomic and phosphoproteomic database for mouse spermatogonial stem cells and progenitors, revealing that post-translational phosphorylation plays a more distinct regulatory role than protein expression in fate decisions and identifying key kinases whose inhibition impairs differentiation while linking specific proteins to testis phenotypes in knockout models.

Skerrett-Byrne, D. A., Nixon, B., Sanz-Moreno, A., Damek, F., da Silva-Buttkus, P., Teperino, R., Gailus-Durner, V., Fuc (…)2026-07-16