Biology subjects

Wang, C.

Publications and source records attributed to Wang, C..

At least 109 records · Page 6Linked to original sources

bioRxiv2026

MOFF2: A Transferable Coarse-Grained Protein Force Field for Predictive Condensate Simulations

Coarse-grained protein force fields enable simulations of biomolecular systems at length and time scales that are difficult to access with atomistic models, but achieving transferability across folded, intrinsically disordered, and multidomain proteins remains challenging. A central difficulty is that one-bead-per-residue models must represent chemically specific residue interactions while also absorbing solvent-mediated and many-body effects into a simplified energy function. Here, we present MOFF2, a transferable coarse-grained protein force field that combines residue-pair-specific interactions with a density-dependent many-body potential. MOFF2 is optimized using a two-stage strategy: bottom-up parameter learning from heterogeneous reference ensembles followed by refinement against experimental conformational observables. The resulting model provides balanced performance across ordered proteins, intrinsically disordered proteins, and multidomain proteins, and predicts condensate saturation-concentration trends for A1-LCD variant systems. Analysis of the learned parameters reveals chemically interpretable interaction patterns and density-dependent effects that explain the models improved transferability. These results demonstrate that combining a generalized coarse-grained energy function with data-driven optimization can produce a practical and interpretable force field for protein conformational and condensate simulations.

biophysics↗

bioRxiv2026

Heat stress induces persistent placental dysfubction and fetal growth restriction via the ERS-MAPK-apoptosis axis

Maternal heat stress (HS) is an emerging risk factor for adverse pregnancy outcomes, yet how gestational heat exposure causes persistent placental dysfunction remains unclear. In the present study, we established a murine HS model (38.5{degrees}C, 2.5 h/day, E0-E12.5) followed by thermal recovery to E17.5. HS reduced fetal weight during early gestation and caused persistent fetal growth restriction after recovery, despite partial placental weight restoration. Histological analyses revealed early reductions in the junctional and labyrinth zones, followed by sustained labyrinthine deficiency and compensatory junctional zone expansion. Consistently, HS impaired placental vascularization, with reduced vessel length and area, decreased CD31 and -SMA abundance, and altered angiogenesis-related gene expression. HS also triggered oxidative stress, weakened antioxidant capacity, disrupted anti-inflammatory signaling, reduced tight junction protein expression, and compromised barrier integrity. Mechanistically, HS induced excessive endoplasmic reticulum stress, accompanied by increased CHOP, phosphorylated ERK, and cleaved caspase-3. In conclusion, our data unveil a heat-induced placental insufficiency program that restricts fetal growth through vascular, redox, barrier, and ERS-MAPK-apoptotic remodeling. Graphical Abstract O_FIG O_LINKSMALLFIG WIDTH=200 HEIGHT=107 SRC="FIGDIR/small/730306v1_ufig1.gif" ALT="Figure 1"> View larger version (40K): org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@c73748org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@fe7b3eorg.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@14d5e6dorg.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@72572f_HPS_FORMAT_FIGEXP M_FIG C_FIG

developmental biology↗

bioRxiv2026

Asymmetric introgression and thermal advantage jointly drive climate-mediated lineage turnover in a mixed-ploidy reed

Species distribution forecasts commonly overlook intraspecific genetic variation, missing a potentially important mechanism of ecosystem change: climate-driven range shifts among lineages within a species native range. Here we integrate population genomic analysis of 495 individuals, multi-site common garden experiments, and species distribution modeling based on 837 occurrence records for three major genetic lineages of the foundation grass Phragmites australis in China. The octoploid FEAU lineage (haplotype P) exhibits superior heat tolerance (critical temperature Tcrit and T50) and produces significantly greater total biomass in three of four common gardens compared to the cold-adapted CN lineage (tetraploid, haplotypes O/M), which occupies a climatic niche with lower annual mean temperature (Bio1) and mean temperature of the wettest quarter (Bio8). Genomic analyses further reveal bidirectional but asymmetric introgression, with admixed individuals showing a systematic bias toward FEAU ancestry. Under the high-emission scenario (SSP5-8.5) by 2070, projected highly suitable habitat for the FEAU lineage expands by 18.6%, while the CN lineage shows a smaller relative increase. By contrast, the subtropical SW lineage (haplotypes U/I) exhibits limited and stable suitable habitat. These results demonstrate that climate change interacts with intraspecific variation among polyploidy-associated lineages, manifested through differences in thermal tolerance, biomass production, and asymmetric gene flow, to drive potential lineage replacement within a native range, a process already suggested by field observations of FEAU expansion in a plateau lake. Our findings argue for integrating evolutionary history and genetic identity into ecological forecasting to better anticipate ecosystem responses under ongoing climate warming.

ecology↗

bioRxiv2026

A horizontally transferred fungal deubiquitinase facilitates insecticides resistance in whitefly

Horizontal gene transfer (HGT) has enabled insects to acquire novel genetic material that can fuel adaptation to environmental change. However, the role of HGT in the evolution of insecticide resistance remains poorly characterised. Here, we identify BtUCH19, a fungal gene that has integrated into the genome of the global pest Bemisia tabaci and functions as a deubiquitinating enzyme (DUB). We show that compared to endogenous DUB, BtUCH19 specifically removes K63-linked ubiquitin chains from a cytochrome P450, CYP4C64, thereby stabilizing this key detoxification enzyme in vivo. Sustained CYP4C64 abundance enhances metabolic detoxification of two commonly used insecticides thiamethoxam (TMX) and clothianidin (CLO) to their low-toxicity products TMX-Urea and CLO-Urea. Consequently, BtUCH19 drives insecticide resistance through a novel "HGT-PTM-Metab" axis. Our work reveals the instrumental role of a HGT in orchestrating ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS)-mediated protein level regulation of a key detoxification pathway. These findings offer new insights into the intricate mechanisms underlying co-evolutionary biology, and provide a new molecular target for Integrated Pest Management (IPM).

zoology↗

bioRxiv2026

Astrocytic μ-δ opioid receptor heterodimers mediate the antidepressant effects of ketamine's metabolite

A deeper understanding of the targets and mechanisms of fast-acting antidepressants, exemplified by ketamine, remains indispensable for better therapeutic strategies and understanding depression. Beyond the canonical neuron-centric NMDAR inhibition hypothesis, brain opioid system and glia-mediated processes are increasingly implicated in ketamines antidepressant efficacy, yet their precise contributions remain poorly understood. Here, we demonstrate that one major metabolite of ketamine, (2R,6R)-hydroxynorketamine (HNK), selectively targets -{delta} opioid receptor heterodimers (-{delta}-ORs) on astrocytes. By promoting the formation and/or stabilization of -{delta}-ORs, HNK engages Gs-coupled signaling, elevates intracellular cAMP, phosphorylates CREB (p-CREB) levels and Ca{superscript 2} dynamics in astrocytes, and consequently restores key astrocytic proteins and functions in depression models. Disrupting -{delta}-OR assembly or Gs signaling abolishes HNK-mediated antidepressant responses both in vitro and in vivo. Collectively, astrocytic opioid receptor heterodimers are critical to antidepressant responses and HNK may serve as a prototype compound for targeting astrocyte dysfunction across a wide range of brain disorders.

neuroscience↗

bioRxiv2026

(2R,6R)-Hydroxynorketamine elicits rapid antidepressant effects by promoting astrocytic μ-δ opioid receptor heterodimerization

Ketamine produces rapid antidepressant effects but is constrained by psychotomimetic properties and abuse potential. The ketamine metabolite (2R,6R)-hydroxynorketamine (HNK) shows antidepressant-like efficacy without N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) blockade, yet its upstream targets remain unclear. Here we show that HNK potentiates hippocampal excitatory transmission and reverses stress-induced behavioural deficits through opioid receptor signaling. Pharmacological and genetic analyses reveal a requirement for both {micro}- and {delta}-opioid receptors in astrocytes. Chronic stress reduces {micro}-{delta} receptor heterodimers in the hippocampus, and a single dose of HNK restores their abundance. PAINT-MINFLUX nanoscopy quantifies increased {micro}-{delta} heterodimerization, and molecular dynamics simulations indicate selective binding of HNK to the {micro}-receptor protomer via Asp147 and Tyr148. Mutating these residues abolishes HNK-driven heterodimer formation, downstream signaling and rapid antidepressant-like effects in vivo. Astrocytic {micro}-{delta} opioid receptor heterodimers thus represent a targetable mechanism for next-generation rapid-acting antidepressants.

neuroscience↗

bioRxiv2026

Monocytes shape the neuroprotective and immunomodulatory effects of mesenchymal stromal cell-derived extracellular vesicles

BACKGROUNDMesenchymal stromal cell-derived extracellular vesicles (MSC-EVs) exert neuroprotective effects in ischemic stroke largely through immunomodulatory mechanisms. Monocytes are first-line responders to MSC-EVs. Their contribution to MSC-EV-induced neuroprotection remains poorly understood. This study investigated the role of monocytes in shaping neuroprotective responses to MSC-EVs after ischemic stroke. METHODSMale C57BL/6J mice were exposed to transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO). Monocytes were depleted using pharmacological (clodronate liposomes), immunological (anti-CCR2), or genetic (Mrp8-Cre+/- Nr4a1fl/fl) approaches removing total, CCR2+, or Ly6Clow monocytes, respectively. In additional cohorts, neutrophils and T cells were simultaneously depleted by anti-Ly6G or anti-CD4/CD8 antibodies. Small EVs from clonally expanded immortalized MSCs were administered intravenously. Neurological deficits, ischemic injury, and immune responses were analyzed up to 72 hours post-MCAO. Complementary ex vivo studies were performed, in which MSC-EVs were administered to monocyte-depleted or non-depleted peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) obtained from acute ischemic stroke patients. RESULTSIn ischemic mice with intact monocyte compartment, MSC-EVs reduced neurological deficits, infarct volume, neuronal injury, and brain leukocyte infiltrates. These protective effects were abolished in monocyte-depleted mice, particularly following CCR2+ monocyte depletion. Under these conditions, MSC-EV treatment exacerbated neurological deficits, ischemic injury, and leukocyte infiltration, accompanied by neutrophil and T cell expansion and overactivation. Depletion of neutrophils or T cells prevented the EV-induced worsening of stroke outcome in monocyte-deficient mice. Ly6Clow monocytes played a crucial role in orchestrating immune responses to MSC-EVs. Their depletion abolished EV-induced neuroprotection. In stroke patient PBMCs, MSC-EVs induced phenotypic reprogramming of monocytes, whereas they promoted CD4+ and CD8+ T cell activation in the absence of monocytes. CONCLUSIONSMonocytes shape the immunomodulatory actions of MSC-EVs. In their absence, MSC-EVs trigger neutrophil and T cell overactivation that worsens stroke outcome. These findings highlight the importance of monocyte- and T cell-related potency assays for the clinical translation of MSC-EV therapies.

neuroscience↗

bioRxiv2026

Integrating Histology with Spatial Molecular Programs Using a Multimodal Foundation Model

Histopathological assessment remains central to cancer diagnosis and stratification, yet its mechanistic interpretation remains limited without molecular context. To address this, we developed SQUALL, a multimodal foundation model integrating histology with spatial molecular programs. For pretraining, we assembled histMol, a large-scale corpus of 1.76 billion paired histology-spatial transcriptomics spots/bins across 33 tissues and 12 platforms from 3,446 tissue sections. Following pretraining, SQUALL enables transcriptome-wide virtual biomarker profiling, prognostically relevant spatial niches discovery, and integrative disease progression modeling. Leveraging its multimodal embeddings, SQUALL identifies niches associated with tertiary lymphoid structure (TLS) maturation and ovarian cancer relapse, reconstructs molecular trajectories of breast cancer invasion across 325,112 spots, and uncovers underlying transcriptional programs. Applied to whole-slide images from 898 patients, SQUALL outperforms existing pathology foundation models in outcome prediction while enabling interpretable risk stratification. Together, these results establish spatially aligned multimodal pretraining as a new paradigm for extending molecular insights into pathology images.

bioinformatics↗

bioRxiv2026

Elamipretide reverses female fertility decline during reproductive aging via regulating VEGF in oocytes

Aging is one of the primary drivers for the decline of female fertility, and oocyte quality is the main cause for ovary aging, which is related with infertility. Although some effective anti-aging natural components have been reported, highly efficient strategies for reversing ovary aging remain lacking. In this study, we reported that peptide elamipretide reserved ovary function for female fertility during maternal aging. Our findings demonstrated that elamipretide improved aged human oocyte maturation and fertilization. Elamipretide injection increased the litter size of aged mice, and improved oocyte quality with the reverse of follicle and embryo development defect. Metabolomic and transcriptomic analyses demonstrated that multiple biological processes in oocytes were significantly reserved. Both nuclear maturation and cytoplasmic maturation of aged oocytes were improved, showing with enhancing cytoskeletal dynamics, mitochondrial metabolism and organelle rearrangement. In vitro supplementation during culture also restored oocyte developmental competence in both mouse and porcine oocytes. Mechanistic analysis suggested that elamipretide reversed age-related ovarian damage via synergistic activation of the Vitamin B6-VEGF axis. Therefore, our study proposed a new peptide therapy for aging-induced infertility, showing that elamipretide reverses aged oocyte quality for fertility by promoting both nuclear and cytoplasmic maturation through the coordination with VEGF signaling pathway.

developmental biology↗

bioRxiv2026

Temporal structure of task engagement organizes infra-slow BOLD dynamics

Task-based fMRI has traditionally characterized cognitive engagement through spatial patterns of BOLD activation, leaving open whether tasks also organize activity along the frequency dimension. Here we tested whether temporally structured task engagement reshapes infra-slow BOLD dynamics, asking whether task responses are simply superimposed onto ongoing activity or instead redistribute power across the infra-slow spectrum. Across three independent fMRI datasets, task timing systematically reorganized the BOLD power spectrum. In the main visual attention dataset, periodic stimulation produced sharp stimulus-locked peaks at 0.083 and 0.125 Hz; critically, these gains were matched by a reduction concentrated within the dominant intrinsic infra-slow range (0.01-0.04 Hz), indicating redistribution rather than a simple local increase. Independent auditory and visual-motion datasets showed analogous task-frequency responses at their respective timescales, indicating that this reorganization generalizes across modalities and stimulation frequencies. The peaks were spatially related to GLM-derived activation but persisted after removal of the GLM-modeled response, indicating that this frequency-specific organization is not fully reducible to conventional task-evoked activation. These features were functionally informative: task-imposed frequencies distinguished cognitive states, predicted individual reaction time, and preserved subject-specific signatures across runs more effectively than broader spectral ranges or GLM-derived features. Finally, Jansen-Rit simulations coupled to a Balloon-Windkessel model reproduced the peaks, showing that their expression depends on balanced excitatory, inhibitory, and filter-gain regimes rather than simple amplification of input. Together, these findings indicate that task-fMRI reveals not only where cognition is localized, but how temporally structured engagement redistributes infra-slow dynamics across timescales.

neuroscience↗

bioRxiv2026

Graph-based pangenome provides insights into the adaptive evolution of Cucurbita pepo

Understanding how crops respond to environmental variation is crucial for biodiversity conservation and food security. Cucurbita pepo (pumpkin, squash, gourd) is one of the first domesticated crop species and exhibits remarkable phenotypic and ecological diversity, making it a powerful system for investigating the genomic basis of adaptation. Here, we constructed a graph-based C. pepo pangenome using nine chromosome-level assemblies and identified 229,431 high-confidence structural variants (SVs) that were genotyped across 206 wild and cultivated accessions. Our results demonstrate that C. pepo underwent parallel domestication, with two deeply diverged gene pools independently giving rise to the pepo and ovifera cultivated lineages, followed by expansion into diverse environments that produced strong signatures of differentiation largely mediated by young adaptive alleles. Single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and SVs contribute complementary dimensions of environmental responsiveness. Biogeographical modeling predicts continued range contraction of wild relatives and elevated genetic offset in Eastern North American populations under projected future climates. Populations with higher genetic load harbor fewer adaptive variants and exhibit greater predicted maladaptation, indicating that deleterious mutations constrain adaptive potential. These findings highlight how genomic variants, adaptive diversity, and genetic load together shape environmental adaptation and inform conservation and crop improvement.

genomics↗

bioRxiv2026

The Function of LncRNA DRIR in Freezing Tolerance by Promoting Autophagic Degradation of CP29A and CP29B to Alter Alternative Splicing Patterns of Pre-mRNAs

O_LIResearch on the functions and molecular mechanisms of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) involved in regulating plant freezing tolerance is still in its infancy. Our previous research work identified that lncRNA DROUGHT INDUCED LNCRNA (DRIR) regulates gene expressions in Arabidopsis. However, the underlying molecular mechanism is still unknown. C_LIO_LIThis study demonstrates that lncRNA DRIR regulates plant freezing tolerance by affecting alternative splicing patterns of pre-mRNAs. C_LIO_LIThrough chromatin isolation by RNA purification followed by mass spectrometry (ChIRP-MS), we identified two DRIR interacting proteins: CP29A and CP29B. We showed that the drirD mutant, which exhibits elevated DRIR expression and DRIR overexpression lines showed increased sensitivity to freezing stress, whereas DRIR RNAi lines were more tolerant to the stress. CP29A and CP29B bind to nuclear transcripts and, together with DRIR, regulate pre-mRNA alternative splicing under freezing stress. Notably, DRIR induces the relocalization of CP29A and CP29B to autophagosomes, leading to autophagy-mediated protein degradation. C_LIO_LICollectively, our findings elucidate the molecular mechanism by which DRIR influences the autophagy-based degradation of its binding proteins CP29A and CP29B, thereby regulating plant freezing tolerance by altering the alternative splicing patterns of pre-mRNAs, providing novel insights into the functions and mechanisms of lncRNAs in plants adapting to freezing environments. C_LI

plant biology↗

bioRxiv2026

IRF7 deficiency increases disease severity independently of TLR7 recognition in Influenza A infection in mice

Influenza A virus (IAV) remains a major cause of respiratory morbidity and mortality, yet the role of Toll-like receptor 7 (TLR7), an RNA sensor, and its downstream signaling events, such as interferon regulatory factor 7 (IRF7), in IAV infection remain unclear. To address this question, we used single-cell RNA sequencing, genetic mouse models, and immunological analysis. Single -cell transcriptomic profiling of the infected lungs revealed robust upregulation of Tlr7 and genes associated with interferon pathways in dendritic cells and B cells, alongside widespread induction of Irf7 across immune and non-immune compartments. Tlr7-deficient mice exhibited normal viral control, lung pathology, and survival following IAV challenge. In contrast, Irf7 deficiency resulted in significantly increased disease severity, impaired early interferon responses, exacerbated bronchial epithelial hyperplasia, and defective early humoral priming. In assessing adaptive immunity, both Irf7-deficient andTlr7-deficient mice had reduced antihemagglutinin antibody production. Mechanistically, IRF7 protein expression and downstream signaling were largely preserved in TLR7-deficient mice, indicating that IRF7 activation during IAV infection occurs independently of TLR7. Collectively, these findings identify IRF7 as a non-redundant determinant of innate immunity and disease outcomes during IAV infection, while positioning TLR7 as a modulatory factor primarily influencing adaptive immune maturation. Our study refines current models of antiviral sensing by uncoupling receptor induction from functional necessity and highlights IRF7 as a critical downstream regulator dictating host defense against acute influenza A infection. ImportanceInfluenza A virus is a respiratory pathogen that remains a major threat to global health as a seasonal disease and a source of periodic pandemics. The outcomes of the infection can range from mild illness to severe pneumonia and death, particularly in vulnerable populations, yet the reasons why some individuals develop more severe disease are not fully understood. Early immune defenses in the lungs are critical for controlling the virus, but they can also contribute to harmful inflammation if not properly regulated. In particular, key sensors that detect viral genetic material and the signaling pathways that activate antiviral responses play an essential role in shaping these outcomes. The significance of our study lies in defining how these early immune mechanisms influence the course of influenza A infection, providing insight that may guide the development of improved therapies for influenza and related respiratory viruses.

immunology↗

bioRxiv2026

(+)-trans-Cannabidiol is a CB2 receptor agonist

3:(-)-trans-Cannabidiol ((-)-CBD) is a principal phytocannabinoid from Cannabis sativa. (-)-CBD has complex pharmacology but is a relatively weak inhibitor of CB1 and CB2 receptor signalling. Cannabidiol has two chiral centres and thus four stereoisomers. (+)-trans-CBD ((+)-CBD) has a higher affinity than (-)-CBD at CB1 and CB2, but its pharmacodynamic effects at these receptors are incompletely described. We examined the activity of (+)-CBD at human CB1 and CB2 receptors using a fluorescence-based assay of membrane potential in AtT20 cells stably expressing CB1 or CB2 receptors. (+)-CBD produced a rapid, concentration-dependent hyperpolarization in CB2-expressing cells (pEC50 6.63 {+/-} 0.08) with a maximal effect [~]90% of the response to CP55940. The CB2 response was blocked by pertussis toxin pretreatment and competitively inhibited by the CB2 antagonist AM630 (Schild slope 1.1 {+/-} 0.1). (+)-CBD was a low-efficacy, low-potency CB1 agonist and inhibited somatostatin-receptor effects at high concentrations (10-30 {micro}M). It had no effect on the membrane potential of AtT20 wild-type cells. In silico modelling of ligand interactions with CB2 indicated that (+)-CBD but not (-)-CBD formed an H-bond with Ser285, a residue crucial for agonist activation of CB2. Our data suggests (+)-CBD acted as a CB2 agonist via the orthosteric binding site on the receptor. Synthetic CBD, including (+)-CBD, has previously been administered in clinical trials, presumably without consideration of its potential CB2 agonist activity. Given the relative safety of (-)-CBD in people, (+)-CBD may be a useful drug to explore CB2-sensitive disease states, should it prove similarly safe.

pharmacology and toxicology↗

bioRxiv2026

An oncolytic adenovirus armed with anticancer prodrug-activating enzyme offers enhanced tumor killing and antitumor immunity.

Oncolytic viruses are most commonly administered via intratumoral injection; however, their clinical efficacy in achieving tumor eradication remains limited by several challenges, including insufficient penetration into all tumor cells and the inability to elicit robust systemic antitumor immune responses capable of eliminating metastatic microtumors. Here, we report an oncolytic adenovirus, OAd-2B6, with an engineered adenoviral E1 region for tumor selectivity and carrying the prodrug- activating enzyme cytochrome P450 2B6 (CYP2B6) to activate the anticancer prodrug cyclophosphamide (Cytoxan, CTX). OAd-2B6 alone induced dose-dependent tumor cell killing across multiple human tumor cell lines and exhibited strong synergistic antitumor effects when combined with CTX. Importantly, OAd-2B6-mediated local activation of CTX resulted in a potent bystander killing effect that eliminated tumor cells not directly infected by the virus. In a H1299 lung cancer xenograft nude mouse model, intratumoral injection of OAd-2B6 combined with CTX significantly inhibited tumor growth and even achieved complete tumor regression, with markedly superior efficacy compared with monotherapy. In immunocompetent mice bearing 4T1 breast cancer xenografts, OAd-2B6 alone inhibited tumor growth and was accompanied by upregulation of IFN-{gamma} and GzmB expression in the tumor-infiltrated T cells. CTX combination therapy further enhances this anti-tumor immune response, promoting the activation of T cells to suppress non-injected tumors at a distal site. Collectively, this study demonstrates that OAd-2B6 exerts potent antitumor effects through multiple mechanisms, including direct oncolysis, intratumoral prodrug activation leading to bystander killing, and enhancement of systemic antitumor immunity. These findings provide a promising strategy for improving the therapeutic efficacy of oncolytic therapy.

cancer biology↗

bioRxiv2026

The origin and evolution of archaeal Borg extrachromosomal elements

Borgs are giant linear extrachromosomal elements (ECEs) of methane-oxidizing Methanoperedens archaea whose evolutionary origin and ecosystem distribution remain unknown. Here we detected 240 Borgs in diverse saline, soil, and freshwater ecosystems. 27 encode methyl-coenzyme M reductases central to methane metabolism, eight have full rRNA operons related to those of Methanoperedens, and some contain up to four ribosomal proteins. We also identified 323 mini-Borgs whose proteome content and gene phylogenies classify as a distinct ECE type. Based on 105 complete and near-complete genomes, Borgs and mini-Borgs share core genes in conserved order, indicating common ancestry. Phylogenetic and diversity analyses suggest that Borgs evolved via gene acquisition into a backbone inherited from mini-Borgs. This evolutionary trajectory mirrors those proposed for giant viruses of both eukaryotes and bacteria.

microbiology↗

bioRxiv2026

Age-Associated Remodeling of neuroglial Connexin43 in the Mouse and Human Brain

Age-dependent changes in the major neuroglial junctional channel Connexin43 (Cx43) are poorly defined. We integrated public multi-organ and single-cell datasets with high-resolution morphological, biochemical, and functional analyses of human and mouse brains. We reveal a non-linear aging trajectory for Cx43, marked by an adaptational midlife elevation followed by a late-life decline. These molecular changes proceed in the absence of significant cell loss but are associated with extensive glial remodeling. Notably, while astrocytic gap junction coupling in the hippocampus remains largely preserved, aging induces a selective increase in hemichannel mediated dye uptake in both microglia and hippocampal astrocytes. In human cortical and hippocampal tissues, we confirm that aging drives a significant reduction in astrocytic Cx43 expression, alongside characteristic morphological simplification of cell structure and domain contraction. Together, our findings redefine the aging brain as a state of active, multi-level glial remodeling rather than a simple decline in connexin-mediated communication.

neuroscience↗

bioRxiv2026

A cross-tissue POSTN+ fibroblast atlas links periodontal, tumor, and fibrotic stromal niches

Cross-tissue single-cell atlases have re-framed fibroblasts as a continuum of activation states, with universal Pi16+ progenitors giving rise to tissue-restricted activated populations[1] and shared pathological states recurring across inflammatory diseases[2]. Periostin (POSTN), a matricellular protein of injured, fibrotic, and tumor stroma, has been independently linked to activated fibroblasts in liver fibrosis[3], colorectal cancer[4], head-and-neck cancer[5], and dental contexts[6, 7], but cross-tissue conservation of a single POSTN+ program is untested. Here we built a Harmony-integrated atlas of 56,713 human and mouse fibroblasts from eight single-cell datasets spanning six organ contexts (periodontal ligament, periodontitis, oral squamous-cell carcinoma, colorectal cancer, temporomandibular-joint osteoarthritis, and bile-duct-ligation liver fibrosis). A conservative cluster-consensus definition (Wilcoxon padj < 0.05 and log2FC > 0.5 within an atlas-integrated leiden cluster, combined with per-cell POSTN > 0) identified 11,451 POSTN+ cells (20.2% of the atlas) recurring across all six contexts at frequencies from 6.2% (periodontal ligament) to 55.1% (liver fibrosis). Within-fibroblast differential expression yielded a 102-gene shared core program -- collagen biosynthesis, ECM crosslinkers, and matricellular markers including POSTN, SPARC, BGN, FN1, MMP2, and CTHRC1 -- interpreted as POSTN-specific transcriptional amplification of an activated ECM-remodelling module. KLF4, hypothesized a priori as a POSTN+ co-marker, was upregulated in only one of six contexts, consistent with its role as a quiescence brake released during activation[3]. Three pre-registered sensitivity analyses (Harmony parameter, three definitions, dataset exclusion) and an independent Puram-2017 OSCC cohort (1,422 fibroblasts; 101/102 core genes recovered; primary vs lymph-node-met Mann-Whitney p = 0.005) support robustness across integration parameters, definitions, dataset inclusion, and platform.

bioinformatics↗