Journal of Cell Science

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Journal of Cell Science (JCS) publishes cutting-edge science encompassing all aspects of cell biology. JCS is a community journal published by The Company of Biologists (@biologists.bsky.social), a not-for-profit organisation. #cellbiology #cellbio

JCS poster: The nucleus–vacuole junction at a glance
Cartoon speculating how changes in genome size are reflected at the level of single nucleosomes, TADs and subnuclear compartmentalisation. How do genomes adapt to changes in size? As genomes get bigger, their organization in 3D space dramatically shifts in ways we do not understand, likely requiring innovations at the molecular scale in order to maintain the same functions. Here we speculate on these changes at the level of single nucleosomes, TADs and subnuclear compartmentalization. (A) Based on previous work in Drosophila suggesting that heterochromatin machinery is titrated with increasing genome content (Dimitri and Pisano, 1989), we speculate that H3K9me3, an epigenetic mark associated with heterochromatin, will be less abundant on newly polyploid genomes. (B) Based on some evidence from axolotl (Schloissnig et al., 2021), we also hypothesize that TADs will generally scale with increasing genome size. (C) As genomes get bigger, nuclei also grow, resulting in a decrease in the ratio between nuclear surface and nuclear volume. Since the nuclear envelope is the source of many nuclear activities, including nuclear transport and communication with the endoplasmic reticulum, we speculate that major changes in nuclear shape and an increase in NPCs are required to accommodate a bigger genome. We also hypothesize that membraneless subnuclear compartments such as the nucleolus and heterochromatin domains will scale with genome size, and it will be interesting to measure how these changes affect ribosomal RNA production and gene silencing, respectively. Created in BioRender by Zhou, C., 2026. https://BioRender.com/6dz6avq. This figure was sublicensed under CC-BY 4.0 terms.
Waddington landscapes and transcriptional noise. Iconography adapted from Waddington (1957) and Urban and Johnston (2018). (A) Example landscape. Top, a stem cell (blue ball) differentiates as it rolls down through the landscape towards different valleys leading to different cell fates, presented here as fibroblast, myoblast or neuron. Bottom, according to the traditional model, individual lineage-specific genes are transcribed in different local minima. (B) Transcriptional noise is visualized as a transient ‘speed bump’ that diverts a fibroblast progenitor incorrectly down the myoblast path. (C) Increasing valley depth mitigates the effect of a speed bump. (D) Clusters will be in deeper minima, mitigating effects of transcriptional noise.
Cartoon showing the regulators of nuclear size. (A)A variety of different biophysical forces are thought to act on the nucleus. Nucleocytoplasmic transport dictates the proteomes of the nucleoplasm and cytoplasm, which each give rise to different densities & osmotic pressures in these two compartments. Lower density in the nucleoplasm correlates with higher macromolecular diffusion rates. The NE is viscoelastic, which allows for NE growth while also producing membrane tension that can restrict growth. Weakening of the NE can cause membrane blebs that rupture & repair, also affecting nuclear size and shape. The overarching model is that the magnitude of these different biophysical forces and how they balance each other determine steady-state nuclear size in different cell types, developmental stages & organisms. However, in many instances, rigorous testing of this model awaits future investigation. (B) LINC complexes mediate interactions between the lamina & chromatin inside the nucleus & the actin & microtubule (MT) cytoskeletons in the cytoplasm, producing mechanical forces on the NE that affect nuclear size & shape. Additionally, force produced by intranuclear F-actin can drive nuclear growth and cytoplasmic vimentin filaments can resist NE deformation. (C) Other NE components that mechanically influence nuclear size include lamins and lamin–histone interactions, heterochromatin-binding proteins and lipid composition. (D) Chromatin is another mechanical effector that produces force on the NE. Chromatin forces are influenced interdependently by chromatin amount, histone modifications, chromatin compaction and stiffness, chromatin topology, chromatin-associated RNAs and protein condensates. H3K9ac, histone H3 acetylated at K9; H3K9me, histone H3 methylated at K9; H3K4me3, histone H3 trimethylated at K4; H3K27me3, histone H3 trimethylated at K27. Created in BioRender. Prabha, H., 2026. https://BioRender.com/5qy8f5g. This figure was sublicensed under CC-BY 4.0 terms.
Simplified summary of the journey of mRNA through cap-chaperone regulated RNA metabolism steps.
Schematic showing the mechanisms contributing to cilia disassembly.
JCS cover: Deconvolved confocal images showing a lateral view of the tail of the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans, highlighting the localisation of epidermal AGEF-1 (an orthologue of BIG2; gold, cyan and orange puncta in the top, middle and bottom images, respectively) and RAB-35 (cyan, green and yellow blobs and striated patterns in the top, middle and bottom images, respectively). AGEF-1 interacts with RAB-35 in the nematode epidermis to modulate the integrity of touch-sensing nerves embedded within the skin. See article by I. Bonacossa-Pereira et al. (jcs264565).
Tree no. 15506 Field maple (Acer campestre) Sturdy broad-leaved deciduous tree, with a wide ecological range and natural distribution over most of Europe. Field maple has a light brown and flaky bark, with brown slender twigs that develop corky ridges with age. Its small, dark-green leaves have five lobes with rounded teeth, and fade to a rich golden-yellow or red before falling in autumn. A hermaphroditic species – its small, yellow-green, clustered flowers are pollinated by insects and develop into large, winged crimson fruits (samaras) that are dispersed by wind. Field maple has a compact habit and grows in woods, scrub and hedgerows. While extremely tolerant to shade during the first decade, its light requirements are higher in seed-bearing years. It prefers warmer climates, but can also tolerate hard winters. Highly resistant to air pollution, the trees are widely planted in gardens and parks.
Schematic showing evolutionary diversity in genome organisation
Hongzhe Peng
Figure showing nuclear positioning and deformation in the Ciona notochord.
Figure showing telomere organization in cohesin sumoylation defective cells.
Figure showing that in interphase-arrested cells, progerin forms NE-associated foci that correspond to INM invaginations, whereas the ONM is unaltered.
EMBO EMBL Symposium DNA replication and genome maintenance: from basic biology to human health 20-23 October 2026 EMBL Heidelberg and Virtual
Figure showing nuclear wrinkling in progeria cells.
Figure showing nuclear positioning and centrosome orientation in prelamin A-expressing cells treated with shRNA against SUN1 or the dynein inhibitor HPI-4.
Lily Schumacher
Figure showing that the SINE1 KASH domain is required for stomatal dynamics.
Figure showing euchromatin localisation of importin α1 in micronuclei.
Tree no. 16689 Alder (Alnus glutinosa) Alder Adaptive and fast-growing deciduous tree found in moist ground across most of Europe. It has a dark, fissured bark and long, dark green, leathery leaves with serrated edges. A monoecious species with pendulous male catkins, the green, oval-shaped female catkins turn into small brown cones after wind pollination, with seeds being dispersed by wind and water. Alder prefers deep soils with a high water table and is resistant to waterlogging. Its roots prevent soil erosion, contributing to flood control and the stabilisation of riverbanks. It can grow in nutrient-poor soils owing to its association with nitrogen-fixing bacteria and can quickly colonise bare ground, making it a valuable pioneer species in improving soil conditions for other plants, particularly on reclamation sites. Alder woodlands host and shelter many forms of wildlife all year round, thus contributing to biodiversity.
Summary of CDK9 co-immunoprecipitation mass spectrometry results in HUDEP-2 cells. (A) Venn diagram of identified interactors of CDK9 in undifferentiated (Day 0) & differentiated (Day 6) HUDEP-2 cells. Proteins were considered an interactor when present in all three replicates & ≥3 fold enriched compared to the IgG controls. (B) STRING analysis of the 13 common proteins identified in both undifferentiated (Day 0) and differentiated (Day 6) HUDEP-2 cells. STRING analysis was performed using medium confidence (0.4) for interaction score. Aqua lines represent known interactions from curated databases; purple lines represent experimentally determined known interactors. Green, red and blue lines represent predicted interactors; yellow lines represent text mining identification and black lines represent known co-expression. (C) Venn diagram of identified interactors of CDK9 overexpression, CDK9-T186A and CDK9-D168N lines in differentiated (Day 6) HUDEP-2 cells. Proteins were considered an interactor when present in all three replicates and ≥3 fold enriched compared to the IgG controls. See Table S2 for a complete list of identified proteins. (D) STRING analysis of the nine common proteins identified in all three HUDEP-2 CDK9 overexpression cell lines. STRING analysis was performed using medium confidence (0.4) for interaction score. Aqua lines represent known interactions from curated databases; purple lines represent experimentally determined known interactors. Green, red and blue lines represent predicted interactors; yellow lines represent text mining identification and black lines represent known co-expression. (E) Heatmaps of clusters 1–4 described in Fig. S5. Proteins identified in each cluster were compared to the average abundance found in CDK9, CDK9-T186A and CDK9-D168N overexpression HUDEP-2 cell lines. Top biological processes (GO) and molecular functions (GO) identified in STRING are listed below for each cluster (strength >2, false discovery P<0.001).
Pallavi Deolal
Figure showing that uip4Δ cells have increased lipid droplets as compared to the wild-type cells.
Adesh Vaidya
Figure showing that survivin is nuclear in hypoxic cells.
HT1080 FUCCI cells imaged for nuclear bleb formation throughout the interphase cell cycle. Total time of video is 20 hours. Scale bar = 10 μm.
Figure showing chromosome size in larger cells
Analysis of TMEM209 truncation mutants
Functional roles of disordered proteins in nuclei of healthy and malignant cells.
JCS Cover: Posterior nucleus positioning in Ciona notochord cells. Co-expression of hCD4–eGFP (green, cell boundary) and Nup50–mCherry (pink, nuclei) in notochord cells in Ciona embryos. The cells and the nuclei are 3D reconstructed and highlighted by Imaris software. See article by H. Peng et al. (jcs264699). Special Issue on Cell Biology of the Nucleus Guest Editor: Abby Buchwalter
Figure showing optogenetic manipulation of proximity between repetitive genomic loci.
Figure showing that RAW264.7-derived osteoclasts exhibit a nuclear envelope MTOC alongside a functional centrosome.
Figure showing that paclitaxel-induced cytoskeletal reorganisation around the nucleus in interphase.
Tree no. 15430 Pedunculate oak (Quercus robur) English oak Large deciduous tree with a broad and spreading crown, native to the British Isles and Europe. It has round-lobed leaves with smooth edges and short stalks (petioles). A monoecious species – the male flowers form long, yellow, hanging catkins and female flowers resemble small pink buds, which are wind pollinated to produce acorns. A pioneer species in plains and hills, pedunculate oak is tolerant to soil conditions and can improve soil structure and drainage. The wood has a high tannin content, making it resistant to insects and fungal attacks. Oak decline may be caused by mildew, and acorns are often affected by knopper gall. The trees host hundreds of insect species, with mammals feeding on acorns and birds nesting in crevices in the bark. A fair amount of light passes through the canopy, supporting a rich diverse understory
Figure showing the rescue of aberrant nuclear morphologies by transfection of HAP1 VAPA KO cells with EGFP-VAPA.
Abby Buchwalter
Tree no. 16951 Aspen (Populus tremula) Aspen trees Medium-sized, deciduous, broad-leaved tree, native to cool temperate and boreal regions of Europe and Asia. The bark is grey and pitted with diamond lenticels, and the leaves are round with large, irregular, blunt teeth. Leaf stalks (petioles) are flattened and flexible near the leaf blade, causing leaves to flutter in the slightest breeze. Trees have either male or female catkins (dioecy). Male catkins are brown and long, turning yellow with pollen when ripe. Female catkins are green and release tiny fluffy seeds after wind pollination. Aspen is a light-demanding and fast-growing tree, and flourishes in open sunlight and moist soil. It can self-propagate using suckers, forming extensive clonal colonies. A disturbance-adapted pioneer species, it is a principal coloniser of clear disturbed areas such as after fire or clear cutting. Aspen trees are the preferred tree species for the Eurasian beaver, which feeds extensively on the soft bark
Time-lapse imaging of early-passage hMSCs in a near-confluent monolayer. Cells exhibit active collective motility with dynamic flow patterns and multiple regions of high velocity. Images were acquired every 15 min for 12 h. Scale bar: 200 μm.
EMBO EMBL Symposium The complex life of RNA 13-16 October 2026 EMBL Heidelberg and Virtual
Misato Shimoyama
Figure showing that screening multiple environments uncovers condition-induced proteins.
JCS poster: RNA-binding proteins in cell adhesion at a glance
JCS cover: Fluorescence micrograph of the female reproductive tract of Drosophila melanogaster. The image highlights the oviduct, spermathecae, seminal receptacle and associated reproductive organs involved in fertilisation and egg deposition, together with mature eggs poised for laying. Cell nuclei are shown in turquoise (DAPI), while enhanced fluorescence displayed in violet provides contrast for visualisation of additional structural features of the reproductive tract. See article by C. A. M. Costa et al. (jcs264328).
Caique Almeida Machado Costa
NPPs can individually migrate toward germline region. Movie shown in Fig. 3C illustrates an individual NPP expressing TRE:GFP (green) migrating towards the germline cell area, while adjacent NIR cells expressing nuclear RFP (red) remain stationary in a monolayer along the egg chamber periphery. Hoechst staining is shown in blue.
Figure showing that actin depolymerization triggers rapid loss of PM PIP2.
Figure showing that the range of proximity labelling can be restricted by reducing BSST concentration or reaction time.
Sucheta Dey
Figure showing the glycylases and glutamylases that modify proteins of diverse molecular functions.
Mu He
JCS poster: RNA-binding proteins in cell adhesion at a glance
Figure showing that effect sizes are relatively insensitive to random sampling and sample size.
Tree no. 16894 Pedunculate oak (Quercus robur) English oak Large deciduous tree with a broad and spreading crown, native to the British Isles and Europe. It has round-lobed leaves with smooth edges and short stalks (petioles). A monoecious species – the male flowers form long, yellow, hanging catkins and female flowers resemble small pink buds, which are wind pollinated to produce acorns. A pioneer species in plains and hills, pedunculate oak is tolerant to soil conditions and can improve soil structure and drainage. The wood has a high tannin content, making it resistant to insects and fungal attacks. Oak decline may be caused by mildew, and acorns are often affected by knopper gall. The trees host hundreds of insect species, with mammals feeding on acorns and birds nesting in crevices in the bark. A fair amount of light passes through the canopy, supporting a rich diverse understory.
Figure showing that mechanically evoked currents in MCC13 are modified by the PTAPs, MDFIC and MDFI.