281 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.
Contrary to the prevailing hypothesis that embryonic stem cell pluripotency relies on a globally "open" chromatin architecture, this study demonstrates that higher-order chromatin fibre structures in embryonic stem cells are largely similar to those in differentiated cells, with only a slightly more disrupted conformation rather than a fundamentally open state.
This study reveals that the C. elegans K2P channel TWK-40 regulates presynaptic organization and function through a membrane potential-independent mechanism by modulating intracellular potassium levels, which in turn activates the potassium-sensitive enzyme PYK-1 and specific transcription factors to control presynaptic assembly.
This study reveals that the BLM DHBN domain and structure-selective nucleases (MUS81 and GEN1) drive mitotic arrest-dependent telomere deprotection by acting on TRF2-protected T-loop junctions, a process that is selectively restrained by the WRN helicase to prevent genomic instability.
This study reveals that the cardiovirus PRF element functions as a protein-dependent riboswitch, where binding of the viral 2A protein induces a conformational switch from a stem-loop to a pseudoknot, thereby activating the exceptionally high ribosomal frameshifting efficiency required for viral replication.
This study demonstrates that serum exosomal let-7a-5p ameliorates pulmonary fibrosis by directly targeting TGFBR1 to inhibit endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition, thereby suppressing TGF-β/Smad signaling and offering both a potential therapeutic strategy and a biomarker for Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis.
This study demonstrates that the tRNA writer enzyme MnmA coordinates bacterial stress responses and fitness by modifying wobble uridine to ensure the efficient translation of specific codon-defined regulon controllers, such as RpoS and OxyR, thereby linking codon architecture to global gene expression and stress adaptation.
This study introduces a genome-wide sequencing strategy using AID-mediated mutational footprints to map helicase activity, revealing that the RecQ4-family helicase Hrq1 is widely associated with RNA polymerase III-transcribed genes, particularly tRNA genes, where it unwinds DNA on the transcriptional template strand.
This study presents the first comprehensive multi-omics framework for the wild cochineal bug *Dactylopius opuntiae*, including a 359-Mb de novo genome assembly that identifies 26 fatty acyl reductase (FAR) genes and reveals lineage-specific tandem expansions responsible for the insect's dense waxy coating.
This study presents a comprehensive, expert-validated DNA barcode reference library for 1216 named Diptera species from Churchill, Canada, which not only facilitates future species identification and biogeographic analysis but also reveals complex molecular evolutionary patterns and postglacial colonization histories in the region.
This study establishes a comprehensive genetic toolkit for the anaerobic gut parasite *Blastocystis* ST7-B, featuring optimized electroporation, validated antibiotic selection systems, and a three-stage workflow for generating stable transgenic lines with diverse reporter capabilities, thereby overcoming previous barriers to functional genetics in this prevalent human microbe.