Chinese researchers led by Prof. XIAO Jun at the Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences have developed a groundbreaking technology that sheds light on how the three-dimensional (3D) organization of plant genomes influences gene expression—especially in photosynthesis.

Haptophytes—the unicellular photosynthetic marine algae—are one of the major contributors to marine biomass. Scientists at Okayama University, Japan, unveil the first high-resolution structure of the photosystem II–FCPII (photosynthetic supercomplex) in a marine haptophyte, Chrysotila roscoffensis. This discovery sheds light on the unique approach of sunlight capture and energy management by the complex, offering new insights into marine biology and potential advances in artificial photosynthesis technology.

A newly identified centromeric structure, the CENP-A–H4 octasome, may reveal how chromosomes segregate properly during cell division, report researchers from Japan. Using cryo-electron microscopy, they visualized this complex formed only of histones CENP-A and H4, wrapped around 120 base pairs of DNA, revealing unique features important for mitosis. These findings may provide a novel perspective for understanding diseases caused by abnormal cell division, including cancer.

Researchers at Osaka Metropolitan University have discovered a protein that is involved in plant leaf aging.

Researchers trace the evolutionary history of the PD-1 immune checkpoint system across jawed vertebrates, uncovering conserved features with potential relevance for cancer immunotherapy.