Enzyme-mediated chemical modifications of nucleic acids are indispensable regulators of gene expression. Our understanding of the biochemistry and biological significance of these modifications has largely been driven by an ever-evolving landscape of technologies that enable accurate detection, mapping, and manipulation of these marks. Here we provide a summary of recent technical advances in the study

We talk to first author Kevin about his paper, “Nascent RNA scaffolds contribute to chromosome territory architecture and counter chromatin compaction,” and what drew him to Jeanne’s lab. We also chat to Jeanne about her career path, obstacles she faced along the way, and being a woman and a mother in science.

Complementary papers by Nguyen et al. (2021) and Baek et al. (2021) track the assembly of the pre-initiation complexes at gene promoters using single-molecule microscopy, revealing dynamic spatiotemporal regulation of transcription initiation.

In this issue of Molecular Cell, Cao et al. (2021) report that AML cells are specifically addicted to an IRF8-MEF2D gene expression network. Furthermore, they identify a chromatin reader, ZMYND8, as the upstream regulator of the IRF8-MEF2D program whose activity is critical for AML cell survival.

Valencia-Sánchez et al. (2021) and Liu et al. (2021) provide structural and biological insights about the existence and importance of a nucleosome-like particle in a family of giant viruses.

All eukaryotic organisms have evolved sophisticated immune systems to appropriately respond to biotic stresses. In plants and animals, a key part of this immune system is pattern recognition receptors (PRRs). Plant PRRs are cell-surface-localized receptor kinases (RKs) or receptor proteins (RPs) that sense microbe- or self-derived molecular patterns to regulate pattern-triggered immunity (PTI), a robust

The expression of the urea cycle (UC) proteins is dysregulated in multiple cancers, providing metabolic benefits to tumor survival, proliferation, and growth. Here, we review the main changes described in the expression of UC enzymes and metabolites in different cancers at various stages and suggest that these changes are dynamic and should hence be viewed in a context-specific manner. Understanding

The development and functional potential of metazoan cells is dependent on combinatorial roles of transcriptional enhancers and promoters. Macrophages provide exceptionally powerful model systems for investigation of mechanisms underlying the activation of cell-specific enhancers that drive transitions in cell fate and cell state. Here, we review recent advances that have expanded appreciation of the

Here, Elçin Ünal and Gloria Brar tell us how the Br-Ün Lab came to be, the cons, but mostly the pros, of running a joint lab and things to consider, as well as their philosophies in research and mentoring a diverse group of scientists.

We talk to first and last authors Michael Ranes and Sebastian Guettler about their paper, “Reconstitution of the destruction complex defines roles of AXIN polymers and APC in β-catenin capture, phosphorylation, and ubiquitylation,” how questions at conferences drove the work, the research in the Guettler lab, and Michael’s experience as a Black scientist and his hopes for the future.

Ranes et al. (2021) report on an in vitro reconstituted β-catenin destruction complex and elucidate the contributions of full-length and cancer-related mutated core components to β-catenin turnover, thereby advancing our understanding of the inner workings of this tumor suppressor complex.

Orellana et al. (2021) and Dai et al. (2021) demonstrate that increased m7G modification of a subset of tRNAs by the METTL1/WDR4 complex stabilizes these mRNAs against decay, increases translation efficiency, reduces ribosome pausing, is associated with poor survival in human cancers, and is directly transforming.