molecular biology papers

Molecular biology explores the tiny machinery inside living cells, revealing how genetic instructions are read, copied, and turned into the proteins that keep us alive. This field acts as a bridge between the static code of DNA and the dynamic processes that drive growth, disease, and life itself, offering insights into everything from cellular repair to the development of new medicines.

On Gist.Science, we track every new preprint uploaded to bioRxiv in this category to make these complex discoveries accessible to everyone. Our team processes each submission to provide both clear, plain-language explanations and detailed technical summaries, ensuring you can grasp the core findings without getting lost in dense academic jargon.

Below are the latest molecular biology papers freshly processed from bioRxiv, ready for you to explore and understand.

📄 molecular biology

Validation of a molecular workflow for Cochliomyia hominivorax (New World screwworm) identification in field samples

This study develops and validates a comprehensive molecular workflow comprising three highly sensitive real-time PCR assays and five Sanger primer sets to provide rapid, accurate, and verified species identification for the reemerging New World screwworm (*Cochliomyia hominivorax*), thereby enhancing surveillance capabilities for potential incursions into the United States.

Palinski, R., Hicks, J. A., Alfred, J. T., Thompson, A., Camp, P. M., Thomas, J., Murphy, G., Robbe-Austerman, S.2026-03-17

📄 molecular biology

Digoxin Inhibits Bax{triangleup}2-induced Neuronal Cell Death

This study identifies digoxin as a specific inhibitor of Bax{Delta}2-induced neuronal cell death that acts independently of its cardiac effects by modulating protein levels rather than aggregation, suggesting that structurally similar, safer compounds could be developed to treat Alzheimer's disease.

Yao, Q., Sorescu, J. M., Amin, I. N., Julian, A., Heo, J., Philoctete, D., Minh, D., Xiang, J.2026-03-17

📄 molecular biology

The muscle atrophic phenotype of MuSK myasthenia gravis: Insights from a preclinical rat model

Using a rat model of MuSK myasthenia gravis, this study reveals that MuSK autoimmunity drives selective atrophy of slow-twitch muscle fibers through profound proteome remodeling characterized by disrupted mitochondrial and translational homeostasis, extending beyond mere neuromuscular junction impairment.

Jakobsgaard, J. E., Thomasen, P. B., Wang, J., Kristiansen, T. H., Johnsen, P., Riisager, A., Huus, N., Broch-Lips, M. (…)2026-03-16

📄 molecular biology

Integrating Semi-Dwarf Traits into Diverse Wheat Landraces through CRISPR/Cas9, Base Editing and Prime Editing

This study demonstrates a robust precision breeding strategy using CRISPR/Cas9, base editing, and prime editing to successfully integrate semi-dwarfing alleles into diverse Watkins wheat landraces, thereby unlocking their valuable genetic diversity for sustainable crop improvement.

SMEDLEY, M. A., Awal, R., Hayta, S., Nekrasov, V., Kaniganti, S., Forner, M., Griffiths, S.2026-03-16

📄 molecular biology

Cytoplasmic circular dsDNA is a key constituent of stress granules

This study reveals that extrachromosomal circular double-stranded DNA (eccDNA) constitutes a major component of stress granule cores and is essential for their formation during the eukaryotic stress response.

Demeshkina, N. A., Ferre-D'Amare, A. R.2026-03-15

📄 molecular biology

Photocrosslinking Activity-Based Probes to Capture the Dynamics of Ubiquitin RING E3 Ligase Interactions

The authors developed a photocrosslinking activity-based probe using modified ubiquitin to map and validate interaction regions between E2 enzymes and diverse RING E3 ligases, thereby confirming existing structural models and assessing new ones in the absence of crystal structures.

Chandler, S. F., Tatham, M. H., Branigan, E., Nakasone, M., Makukhin, N., Ciulli, A., Hay, R. T.2026-03-15

📄 molecular biology

Sample-derived cDNA guides broad host RNA depletion for in vivo pathogen transcriptomics

This paper introduces a sample-derived cDNA-guided RNase H depletion method that selectively removes host RNA from infected tissues to enrich bacterial transcripts over 14-fold while preserving bacterial rRNA, thereby enabling cost-effective, high-sensitivity in vivo pathogen transcriptomics.

Doruk, T., Sarigoz, O., Avican, K.2026-03-14

📄 molecular biology

Differential chromatin looping regulated by two GA-binding transcription factors creates an X-specific chromatin environment for dosage compensation

This study reveals that the competitive binding of the transcription factor CLAMP over GAF at GA-repeat motifs on the Drosophila X chromosome drives mutually exclusive 3D chromatin looping patterns, thereby creating a specific environment that recruits the dosage compensation complex to upregulate active genes.

Aguilera, J. L., Cortez, K., Segarra Alonzo, L. C., Aldana, M., Aragon Vasquez, A., Gray, C., Woodman-Sousa, M., Grive (…)2026-03-14

📄 molecular biology

ApoFLARE: a luminescent reporter for direct quantification of APOBEC3A editing activity

The authors introduce ApoFLARE, a genetically encoded luminescent reporter that enables the direct, scalable, and time-resolved quantification of APOBEC3A editing activity in living cells, overcoming the limitations of indirect or endpoint-based measurement methods.

Di Marco, M. V., Butler, B. L., Eggers, C. T., Hata, A. N.2026-03-14

📄 molecular biology

Transcription directs Holliday junction branch migration

This study reveals that the Top3-Sgs1 complex coordinates the transcription-coupled migration of Holliday junctions from Spo11-induced break sites to cohesin-associated regions of convergent transcription, where crossovers are preferentially resolved to ensure accurate meiotic chromosome segregation.

Powell, T. J., Brown, G. G., Allison, R. M., Harper, J. A., Neale, M. J., Gittens, W. H.2026-03-13

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