Tongue cancer (TC) cells can enter a chemo-resistant state by activating pathways related to autophagy and cholesterol synthesis, report researchers from Institute of Science Tokyo. Using a large-scale library of TC organoids they developed, the researchers performed comprehensive comparative analyses of chemo-sensitive and chemo-resistant cells. Their efforts shed light on promising avenues toward new treatments for tongue cancer.

An Osaka Metropolitan University-led team has developed a method that makes it easy to measure the wrinkles in thin membranes used on large spacecraft using just a single camera.

Researchers in Japan have found that the taller the Japanese black pine trees (Pinus thunbergii) along the coast, the deeper their roots penetrate the ground. Deeper roots make trees more resistant to damage from tsunamis and strong winds. Their findings suggest that the resilience of coastal P. thunbergii trees may be improved by inducing deep root growth, specifically in short trees.

Sensory sensitivity and cognitive traits like savant abilities are often linked to autism spectrum disorder (ASD), yet their connection to gender diversity remains unclear. Reduced androgen (male sex hormone) exposure during early development may influence sensory atypicality and cognitive strengths. Investigating this, a team of researchers from Japan studied individuals with Klinefelter syndrome and sexual minorities assigned male at birth. Their findings reveal shared physiological mechanisms that connect sensory sensitivity, savant abilities, and gender dysphoria.

Macronucleophagy helps control micronucleophagy to protect yeast cells during stress. Through extensive experiments with yeast mutants, researchers from Science Tokyo found that disrupting macronucleophagy triggers excessive micronucleophagy, causing cell death. They further identified that this hyperactivation is driven by the accumulation of Nuclear vacuolar junction (Nvj1), a key nuclear membrane protein. These findings shed light on the links between different autophagy pathways under challenging conditions, which are crucial to maintain cell health.

Researchers from Kumamoto University have identified a liver-derived protein, serine protease inhibitor A1 (SerpinA1), as a key regulator in combating obesity and enhancing glucose metabolism. This groundbreaking study, published in Nature Communications, sheds light on how activating brown adipose tissue (BAT) could pave the way for innovative treatments for diabetes and metabolic disorders.

Osaka Metropolitan University researchers have uncovered a daily mating capacity for medaka, providing important insights into the relationship between the cost of gamete production and sexual selection.