St. Jude scientists have uncovered the previously unknown lipid-regulated mechanism that initiates LC3-associated phagocytosis (LAP), a critical process in innate immunity and anticancer responses. The study reveals that enrichment of the lipid phosphatidylserine in the phagosome membrane is essential for recruiting the complex that drives the enzymatic cascade initiating LAP. 

Ferroptosis, a regulated cell death mechanism, is emerging as a promising target for cancer therapy. The process is mediated by the activity of acyl-CoA synthetase family member 4 (ACSL4) protein. This study focuses on the role of protein arginine methyltransferase 5 (PRMT5), known for promoting various aspects of tumor progression in ACSL4 pathway regulation of renal cell carcinoma (RCC). This study can help in improving the therapeutic efficiency of immunotherapy in treating RCC.

A joint team has uncovered how soft, deformable particles, like cells, behave in microfluidic channels. Using precisely fabricated hydrogel particles and simulations on the supercomputer "Fugaku," they demonstrated that particle softness dramatically alters their focusing patterns, deviating significantly from rigid particle behavior. These findings reveal distinct "phase transitions" in focusing, shifting from mid-edge to eight-point, diagonal-edge, and finally center focusing as deformability increases. This breakthrough, explained by a new theoretical model incorporating inertia and deformability, offers crucial insights for designing next-generation microfluidic devices for highly efficient cell sorting and other biomedical applications like early cancer detection. The ability to control particle focusing based on deformability opens exciting possibilities for advanced particle manipulation and separation technologies.