Shao et al. demonstrate that increased ambient temperature induces ethylene signaling. The ethylene signaling key factors EIN2 and EIN3 collaborate with LHP1 and INO80 to orchestrate chromatin bivalency switching by depositing H3K4me3 and depleting H3K27me3, enabling rapid transcriptional activation in response to elevated temperatures.

(Cell Reports 42, 112190; March 28, 2023)

Boverhoff et al. study the Dutch gut microbiome across 48 municipalities and ages 0–87 years using a dataset with >20% of participants of different ethnic backgrounds. Significant differences in diversity, composition, and functionality are found, particularly in relation to ethnic factors, assessed by amplicon and metagenomic sequencing.

Li et al. find that, under conditions of severe starvation, GSDMA is activated via phosphorylation and mediates pyroptosis. Data from animal models suggest that GSDMA-mediated cell death is immunogenic and may help suppress tumor malignancy.

Ma et al. reveal that the deletion of H2R in VTA DA neurons elicits mania-relevant behavior in mice. H2R limits the endocytosis of GABAAR, thereby inhibiting the hyperactivation of VTA DA neurons. H2R agonists can reverse behavioral abnormalities in mice. This study enriches the DA hypothesis for mania.

Germeys et al. identify EGLN2 as an ALS target that, when downregulated, protects motor neurons and mitigates the ALS phenotype in ALS zebrafish and mice. Using snRNA-seq and CRISPR-Cas9-edited patient iPSCs, they show that the downregulation of EGLN2 normalizes the STING-induced astrocytic interferon response in vivo and in patient-derived cells.

In a recent issue of Cell Reports, Bray et al. found genetic adaptation in kinetochore components and ion transporters underlying polyploid stabilization in Cochlearia. This resurrects the issue of whether nascent polyploidy in diverse organisms establish via common biological mechanisms.