In this issue, Jason Shapiro, Hsiang-Chun (Jimmy) Chang and colleagues identify a conserved role for the iron-binding histone demethylase KDM3B in sensing iron levels and regulating mTORC1 through transcriptional repression of key components of the mTORC1 pathway. In this Q&A, we discuss this manuscript’s findings and publishing journey with first authors Jason Shapiro and Jimmy Chang and corresponding

Non-integrated models of human gastrulation lack extraembryonic tissues, hampering the study of peri-gastrulation development. Liu et al. now overcome this limitation by generating structures consisting of both embryonic and extraembryonic tissues.

Shirin Bahmanyar is an associate professor of molecular, cellular & developmental biology at Yale University, CT, USA. Shirin’s lab studies the organization of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and nuclear envelope, their dynamics throughout the cell cycle, and their relationship to lipid metabolism. We reached out to Shirin and were delighted to hear her thoughts on open questions in this field and to

Collagen is an abundant extracellular matrix protein. However, how precisely collagen protofilaments are assembled into ordered fibrils in vivo remains unclear. Using modelling and in vivo experimental data, Revell et al. suggest that protomeric collagen is secreted then progressively assembled extracellularly into fibrils in the mouse embryonic tail.

Vitamin K has been shown to suppress ferroptosis, but the underlying mechanism remains to be fully characterized. In Cell Metabolism, Yang et al. show that VKORC1L1 is directly regulated by p53 and mediates the reduction of vitamin K to negatively regulate ferroptosis for tumour suppression.

The transmembrane protein stimulator of interferon genes (STING) translocates from the endoplasmic reticulum to the Golgi during STING-induced LC3B lipidation and NLRP3 inflammasome activation. However, how STING functions in the context of innate immunity and non-canonical autophagy has been unclear. Liu et al. show that STING dimers form a proton channel.

Kelly Stevens is an associate professor in the departments of Bioengineering and Laboratory Medicine & Pathology at the University of Washington. We spoke with her and discussed her work, her views on diversity and its importance, but also her personal struggles as an LGBT+ and disabled scientist.

In June 2023, the International Society for Stem Cell Research (ISSCR) released a report detailing standards for human stem cell research . We spoke to the co-chairs of the Steering Committee, Tenneille Ludwig, Senior Scientist and Director of the WiCell Stem Cell Bank, and Peter W. Andrews, Emeritus Professor at the University of Sheffield, and discussed the purpose and some of the basic aspects of

Pioneer transcription factors bind closed chromatin regions, alter local accessibility and activate target genes. A study reveals that the SOX9 transcription factor drives cell fate switching by activating hair follicle cell enhancers, while simultaneously repressing epidermal enhancers via sequestration of epigenetic factors.

Nancy Kleckner is the Herchel Smith professor of molecular biology at Harvard University. She recalls the evolution of her research interests from pure genetics, through biochemistry and molecular biology of DNA, to the roles of mechanical forces for whole-chromosome spatial patterning and dynamics.