Journal of Cell Science

OptoLoop – an optogenetic tool to probe the functional role of genome organization Summary: The development of OptoLoop – an optogenetic tool to induce chromatin looping in a controlled fashion using light and how this tool can be applied to study genome structure–function relations...

Want to try our new OptoLoop constructs for optogenetic control of chromatin looping?

Check out our plasmids now available at @addgene.bsky.social

www.addgene.org/browse/artic...

And don't forget to read our new article published in @jcellsci.bsky.social

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Very proud to share our latest work, carried out with remarkable dedication by Léa and Claire.
Thanks to JCS for the Highlight, but also the wonderful First Author profile featuring Léa and Claire, as well as the journal cover showcasing the work.

New JCS snapshot - Redefining colocalization analysis with a novel phasor mixing coefficient

Owen Puls @owfpuls.bsky.social presents the key findings from their recent JCS paper with Teng-Leong Chew @scopeshifu.bsky.social @hhmijanelia.bsky.social and team.
journals.biologists.com/jcs/article/...

Workflows for assigning proteins to unknown densities in cryo-EM maps. (A) For high-resolution regions, a backbone model is built into the map. Side chain densities at each position are assessed and used to query a sequence database to find the most likely candidate. Alternatively, the backbone model can be used to directly query a structure database to find proteins with similar folds. (B) For medium-resolution regions, a library of known or predicted structures can be rigid body-fitted into the map. The fits can be scored and ranked or otherwise assessed to determine the best fit. Images in B are published from Leung et al., 2025, where they were published under CC-BY 4.0 terms.

In this Perspective article, Miguel Ricardo Leung discusses how advancements in cryo-electron microscopy and machine learning-based structure prediction are enabling a ‘structure-first approach’ for discovering new proteins and interactions.
journals.biologists.com/jcs/article/...

Workflows for assigning proteins to unknown densities in cryo-EM maps. (A) For high-resolution regions, a backbone model is built into the map. Side chain densities at each position are assessed and used to query a sequence database to find the most likely candidate. Alternatively, the backbone model can be used to directly query a structure database to find proteins with similar folds. (B) For medium-resolution regions, a library of known or predicted structures can be rigid body-fitted into the map. The fits can be scored and ranked or otherwise assessed to determine the best fit. Images in B are published from Leung et al., 2025, where they were published under CC-BY 4.0 terms. Particular packages used at each stage are noted.

In this Perspective article, Miguel Ricardo Leung discusses how advancements in cryo-electron microscopy and machine learning-based structure prediction are enabling a ‘structure-first approach’ for discovering new proteins and interactions.
journals.biologists.com/jcs/article/...

Why propose a topic for one of our Workshops? YouTube video by The Company of Biologists

Getting involved as an organiser of one of our Workshops is easy. We focus on the logistics, so you can focus solely on the science. Watch this video to hear from some of our previous organisers. The call for proposals for 2028 programme runs until 29 May. www.youtube.com/watch?v=eShr...

Read & Publish for researchers Read & Publish agreements offer many benefits to researchers including fee-free Open Access publishing in Development, Journal of Cell Science and Journal of Experimental Biology.

This article is available under our Read & Publish Open Access initiative.
Researchers can find out about the wide range of benefits, read what researchers are saying and view a list of participating institutions at www.biologists.com/library-hub/...
#OpenAccess #ReadandPublish

Workflow of the protein purification process in the Cyanidioschyzon-based protein purification system. (A) Schematic overview of the protocol for recombinant protein isolation using the Cyanidioschyzon-based protein purification system. (B) Representative images showing a 0.7-l culture in a glass bottle (left), harvested cell pellet (middle) and resulting cell lysate (right). (C) Microscopy image of disrupted cells following a single freeze–thaw cycle. Images are representative of more than three independent experiments. (D) IMAC of 6×His-tagged mVenus from the cell lysate. (E) SDS-PAGE analysis of the cell lysate (Cell), supernatant (Sup) and cell debris pellet (Pellet), IMAC elution fractions, and a dialyzed sample from fractions #5 and #6. For the Cell, Sup and Pellet samples, 20 μg of total protein was loaded per lane. For the IMAC elution fractions and the dialyzed sample, 10 μl of each was loaded. Data in D and E representative of three experimental repeats.

In their Tools and Resources article, Yuko Mogi, Yamato Yoshida and colleagues present their recombinant protein expression platform with simplified purification based on the photosynthetic unicellular red alga Cyanidioschyzon merolae.
journals.biologists.com/jcs/article/...

Léa Marpeaux

Claire Baudouin

Read more about this research in our ‘First person’ interview with Léa Marpeaux and Claire Baudouin: journals.biologists.com/jcs/article/...

Léa Marpeaux, Claire Baudouin, Gregory Emery @emery-lab.bsky.social and colleagues @umontreal.ca identify an apical supracellular actin network in epithelial cells that acts as a long-range force transmission device.

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journals.biologists.com/jcs/article/...

preLights in cell biology (February 2026) This article includes recent preLight posts that discuss preprints in the field of cell biology.HAK-actin, U-ExM-compatible probe to image the actin cytoskeleton by Olivier Mercey et al.Read the featu...

preLights in cell biology: February edition

journals.biologists.com/jcs/article/...

Cartoon of Mole looking happy having fallen into deep snow after skiing off a slope with exclamation marks over Mole’s head. An anthropomorphised teapot with sunglasses and skis is looking on saying, “Mole!!! We are NOT here for fun!!”

Are we having fun yet?

Read the latest from Mole: journals.biologists.com/jcs/article/...

Super excited that my PhD paper is now officially published - and even more thrilled that my neurons made the cover image of the issue!

doi.org/10.1242/jcs.26…

Phospholipid chemical structures. (A) Glycerophospholipids in archaea feature ether-linked isoprenoid chains and a G1P backbone, in contrast to bacterial and eukaryotic phospholipids, which use a G3P backbone. (B) Phospholipids in eukaryotes are composed of a glycerol (left) or sphingosine (right) backbone, a hydrophilic head group, and one or more hydrophobic acyl chains. Classical glycerophospholipids and sphingophospholipids typically comprise two acyl chains. Although the head groups of glycerophospholipids are highly variable, the most commonly observed head groups of sphingophospholipids are phosphate, phosphocholine and phosphoethanolamine. The fatty acyl chains are typically attached to the glycerol backbone via ester linkages, and the single fatty acid chain is attached to the amino group of the sphingosine backbone via an amide linkage. The top and middle carbons of the glycerol backbone are indicated by sn-1 and sn-2, respectively. (C) Head groups, linkages and acyl chains can vary to create a diverse range of phospholipid structures. The nomenclature used for acyl chains, such as (16:0) and (18:1, n-9), represents the fatty acyl chain structure as (C:D), where C is the total number of carbon atoms, D is the number of double bonds, and the optional ‘n’ indicates the position of the first double bond counted from the methyl end of the chain. (D) Distinct phospholipid subclasses that differ from this structure include lyso-phospholipid, which contains only one fatty acid chain; bis(monoacylglycero)phosphate, which contains two monoacylglycerol units; and cardiolipin, which is characterized by four acyl chains with two phosphatidyl moieties (Harayama and Riezman, 2018).

Also in Issue 3:
- Research Highlights on cardiomyocytes, CVM migration, endolysosomal identity & astrocyte cytoskeletal dynamics
- Correspondences on the LECA debate
- Adaptive regulation of glycerophospholipid metabolism Review
- preLights in cell biology
journals.biologists.com/jcs/issue/13...

JCS Cover: The image shows human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived neurons immunostained for LAMP2 (red) and the neuronal marker TUJ1 (blue) and expressing LAMP1–EGFP (green; detected by anti-GFP immunostaining). LAMP1 and LAMP2 are members of the same protein family and are commonly used interchangeably to label lysosome-like organelles. However, new findings indicate that they localise to functionally distinct organelles, and this image highlights the heterogeneity of the neuronal endolysosomal system. See article by R. Abouward et al. (jcs264466).

Issue 3 is complete

Explore our ToC: journals.biologists.com/jcs/issue/13...

On the cover: hiPSC-derived neurons labelled with TUJ1 (blue), LAMP1 (green) & LAMP2 (red). The image highlights the heterogeneity of the neuronal endolysosomal system.
journals.biologists.com/jcs/article/...

It’s FREE to publish in Journal of Cell Science – there are no page charges, colour charges or hidden fees. And if your institution has a Read & Publish agreement, you can publish immediate OA free of charge.

Find out more: journals.biologists.com/jcs/pages/re...

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Are we having fun yet? Hey there! Yes, it's your old pal, Mole (emphasis on the old). It's a cold and blustery day, and I'm taking a little time off to have this chat with you, because, well, it's been a while. I hope you'r...

Are we having fun yet? *
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* Does Mole have an ORCiD yet @jcellsci.bsky.social ?

Wonderful to see work by Arnav Saha and Tushar Sherkhane from the lab featured on the cover of JCS @jcellsci.bsky.social. A wonderful collaboration between a PhD and UG Masters student to pull this amazing story off.

Thanks for the pick JCS

tinyurl.com/AXLGolgi

Send us your stem cell manuscripts! Very easy to transfer from biorxiv and we can also quickly consider a manuscript based on reviews received elsewhere. JCS does a tremendous job of supporting the scientific community (see the link below). Reach out if you have questions!

Interview with Associate Editor Aryeh Warmflash ABSTRACT. Aryeh is an Associate Professor of BioSciences and a CPRIT Scholar in Cancer Research at Rice University, Houston, Texas, USA. Aryeh graduated with a bachelor's degree in physics and mathema...

You can find out more about Aryeh in our recent interview with him doi.org/10.1242/jcs....

Are you working on stem cell biology? Our Academic Editor Aryeh Warmflash (@warmflashlab.bsky.social) is committed to handling articles on this topic so send your article our way.

There are lots of reasons to choose JCS – find out more: journals.biologists.com/jcs/pages/re...

#stemcells

JCS snapshot: Suppressing microtubule detyrosination augments AAV2 endosomal escape & gene delivery YouTube video by The Company of Biologists

New JCS snapshot - Suppressing microtubule detyrosination augments AAV2 endosomal escape & gene delivery

Shefali Tripathi presents the key findings from their recent JCS paper with Nitin Mohan, Giridhara Jayandharan and team.

journals.biologists.com/jcs/article/...

youtu.be/nP9cS324abk

Kodai Inoue

Read more about this research in our ‘First person’ interview with Chieko Ikoma and Kodai Inoue: journals.biologists.com/jcs/article/...

Microscopy images showing the heterogeneity of cultured astrocytes.

Chieko Ikoma, Kodai Inoue, Asako Terasaki and colleagues use their improved culture and transfection methods to visualise cytoskeleton structures in primary cultured astrocytes.
Highlight: journals.biologists.com/jcs/article/...
Article: journals.biologists.com/jcs/article/...

A graphic with a black background featuring a colourful abstract logo in the top left corner and a large block of white text. The text is a testimonial about publishing an article with The Company of Biologists, discussing the benefits of the Read & Publish initiative and the planting of a tree in the Forest of Biologists. Beneath the text, there is a small portrait photo of a person with curly hair wearing a textured top. At the bottom, bright blue text reads: “Laura Machesky, University of Cambridge, UK.”

Thank you Laura Machesky @lmachesky.bsky.social for sharing your experience of fee-free #OA publishing in
@jcellsci.bsky.social via our #ReadAndPublish agreement with
@theul.bsky.social

Read Laura’s paper: bit.ly/4cucNGK

Is your institution participating too? bit.ly/3O7BxGi

Read & Publish for researchers Read & Publish agreements offer many benefits to researchers including fee-free Open Access publishing in Development, Journal of Cell Science and Journal of Experimental Biology.

This article is available under our Read & Publish Open Access initiative.
Researchers can find out about the wide range of benefits, read what researchers are saying and view a list of participating institutions at www.biologists.com/library-hub/...
#OpenAccess #ReadandPublish

Figure showing CENP-E intensity and chromosome congression remain intact upon CTCF knockdown.

Erin Walsh, Andrew Stephens @andrewdstephens.bsky.social and colleagues find that CTCF maintains centromere function and mitotic fidelity.
journals.biologists.com/jcs/article/...
#OpenAccess #ReadandPublish

EMBO EMBL Symposium Microtubules: from atoms to complex systems 17-20 June 2026 EMBL Heidelberg and Virtual

We are pleased to be a media partner for the @embo.org @embl.org Symposium - Microtubules: from atoms to complex systems
Abstract submission: 11 Mar 2026
Registration (On-site): 6 May 2026
Registration (Virtual): 10 Jun 2026

bit.ly/4jDTuMH
#EESMicrotubules

Reem Abouward

Read more about this research in our ‘First person’ interview with Reem Abouward: journals.biologists.com/jcs/article/...

Figure showing transport dynamics of LAMP1- and LAMP2A-positive organelles.

Reem Abouward, Giampietro Schiavo & team find that LAMP1 and LAMP2A localise to distinct axonal organelles with differential transport dynamics, but share overlapping total protein compositions.
Highlight: journals.biologists.com/jcs/article/...
Article: journals.biologists.com/jcs/article/...