Nature Structural & Molecular Biology

Factors for a successful partnership between academia and industry Nature Structural & Molecular Biology, Published online: 06 March 2026; doi:10.1038/s41594-026-01773-zThe partnership between a leading European research institute, the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL), and a pharmaceutical company, GSK, has set an example of how to build a successful academia–industry relationship. Here, we reflect on the key success factors that shaped this partnership.

ICYMI: New online: Factors for a successful partnership between academia and industry

Charting the 3D regulatory landscape of sex determination with geostatistics Nature Structural & Molecular Biology, Published online: 06 March 2026; doi:10.1038/s41594-026-01750-6METALoci, a computational framework to study the 3D genome, reveals a prominent rewiring of regulatory interactions during sex determination. This geostatistics-inspired method also uncovered a previously unknown non-coding regulatory region at the Fgf9 locus and identifies Meis genes as crucial regulators of sex differentiation.

ICYMI: New online: Charting the 3D regulatory landscape of sex determination with geostatistics

A SLiM view of the human proteome Nature Structural & Molecular Biology, Published online: 06 March 2026; doi:10.1038/s41594-026-01770-2Many protein–protein interactions are mediated by compact amino acid stretches known as short linear motifs (SLiMs) that lack a stable tertiary structure. A study now uses high-throughput precision genome editing to decode the function of over 7,000 SLiMs across the human proteome, providing insights into their roles in cellular homeostasis.

ICYMI: New online: A SLiM view of the human proteome

A proteome-wide dependency map of protein interaction motifs Nature Structural & Molecular Biology, Published online: 06 March 2026; doi:10.1038/s41594-026-01762-2Ambjørn and Meeusen et al. functionally characterize all reported and a comprehensive set of predicted short linear motifs (SLiMs) using base-editing screens, identifying 450 reported and 264 predicted SLiMs required for normal cell proliferation.

ICYMI: New online: A proteome-wide dependency map of protein interaction motifs

Factors for a successful partnership between academia and industry Nature Structural & Molecular Biology, Published online: 06 March 2026; doi:10.1038/s41594-026-01773-zThe partnership between a leading European research institute, the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL), and a pharmaceutical company, GSK, has set an example of how to build a successful academia–industry relationship. Here, we reflect on the key success factors that shaped this partnership.

New online: Factors for a successful partnership between academia and industry

Charting the 3D regulatory landscape of sex determination with geostatistics Nature Structural & Molecular Biology, Published online: 06 March 2026; doi:10.1038/s41594-026-01750-6METALoci, a computational framework to study the 3D genome, reveals a prominent rewiring of regulatory interactions during sex determination. This geostatistics-inspired method also uncovered a previously unknown non-coding regulatory region at the Fgf9 locus and identifies Meis genes as crucial regulators of sex differentiation.

New online: Charting the 3D regulatory landscape of sex determination with geostatistics

A SLiM view of the human proteome Nature Structural & Molecular Biology, Published online: 06 March 2026; doi:10.1038/s41594-026-01770-2Many protein–protein interactions are mediated by compact amino acid stretches known as short linear motifs (SLiMs) that lack a stable tertiary structure. A study now uses high-throughput precision genome editing to decode the function of over 7,000 SLiMs across the human proteome, providing insights into their roles in cellular homeostasis.

New online: A SLiM view of the human proteome

A proteome-wide dependency map of protein interaction motifs Nature Structural & Molecular Biology, Published online: 06 March 2026; doi:10.1038/s41594-026-01762-2Ambjørn and Meeusen et al. functionally characterize all reported and a comprehensive set of predicted short linear motifs (SLiMs) using base-editing screens, identifying 450 reported and 264 predicted SLiMs required for normal cell proliferation.

New online: A proteome-wide dependency map of protein interaction motifs

Function and regulation of the mitochondrial stress response Nature Structural & Molecular Biology, Published online: 05 March 2026; doi:10.1038/s41594-026-01769-9In this review, the authors discuss and contextualize the cellular responses launched after mitochondrial stress and note the importance of the emerging understanding in applying this new knowledge in relevant diseases.

ICYMI: New online: Function and regulation of the mitochondrial stress response

Function and regulation of the mitochondrial stress response Nature Structural & Molecular Biology, Published online: 05 March 2026; doi:10.1038/s41594-026-01769-9In this review, the authors discuss and contextualize the cellular responses launched after mitochondrial stress and note the importance of the emerging understanding in applying this new knowledge in relevant diseases.

New online: Function and regulation of the mitochondrial stress response

The maternal PADI6–UHRF1–UBE2D complex regulates ubiquitination during oocyte maturation and embryogenesis Nature Structural & Molecular Biology, Published online: 02 March 2026; doi:10.1038/s41594-026-01758-yHere, Li, Lu, Xia and colleagues identify the maternal complex MPU (PADI6–UHRF1–UBE2D), determine its cryo-electron microscopy structure and show that PADI6 maintains oocyte proteostasis by sequestering UBE2D with the assistance of UHRF1, thereby inhibiting protein ubiquitination. The study, thus, provides a molecular mechanism underlying PADI6-associated female infertility.

ICYMI: New online: The maternal PADI6–UHRF1–UBE2D complex regulates ubiquitination during oocyte maturation and embryogenesis

The maternal PADI6–UHRF1–UBE2D complex regulates ubiquitination during oocyte maturation and embryogenesis Nature Structural & Molecular Biology, Published online: 02 March 2026; doi:10.1038/s41594-026-01758-yHere, Li, Lu, Xia and colleagues identify the maternal complex MPU (PADI6–UHRF1–UBE2D), determine its cryo-electron microscopy structure and show that PADI6 maintains oocyte proteostasis by sequestering UBE2D with the assistance of UHRF1, thereby inhibiting protein ubiquitination. The study, thus, provides a molecular mechanism underlying PADI6-associated female infertility.

New online: The maternal PADI6–UHRF1–UBE2D complex regulates ubiquitination during oocyte maturation and embryogenesis

Stress adaptation of mitochondrial protein import by OMA1-mediated degradation of DNAJC15 Nature Structural & Molecular Biology, Published online: 27 February 2026; doi:10.1038/s41594-026-01756-0Kroczek et al show that degradation of DNAJC15 by OMA1 and AFG3L2 under stress limits mitochondrial protein import and OXPHOS biogenesis. Non-imported proteins lead to the induction of the unfolded protein responses from the endoplasmic reticulum.

ICYMI: New online: Stress adaptation of mitochondrial protein import by OMA1-mediated degradation of DNAJC15

Stress adaptation of mitochondrial protein import by OMA1-mediated degradation of DNAJC15 Nature Structural & Molecular Biology, Published online: 27 February 2026; doi:10.1038/s41594-026-01756-0Kroczek et al show that degradation of DNAJC15 by OMA1 and AFG3L2 under stress limits mitochondrial protein import and OXPHOS biogenesis. Non-imported proteins lead to the induction of the unfolded protein responses from the endoplasmic reticulum.

New online: Stress adaptation of mitochondrial protein import by OMA1-mediated degradation of DNAJC15

Zscan4 enables the formation of the Z compartment Nature Structural & Molecular Biology, Published online: 26 February 2026; doi:10.1038/s41594-026-01764-0The chromatin environment constitutes a mutable and tunable timer of early development that dictates timely and fine-tuned expression of certain transcriptional programs. In a recent study in Nature Structural & Molecular Biology, the authors describe a nuclear Z compartment that forms in early totipotent-like mouse cells.

ICYMI: New online: Zscan4 enables the formation of the Z compartment

Integrator subunit INTS12 links ribotoxic stress to transcription-coupled nucleotide excision repair Nature Structural & Molecular Biology, Published online: 26 February 2026; doi:10.1038/s41594-026-01766-yLi, Li, Yang and Huang et al. show that ultraviolet-induced ribotoxic stress activates ZAK signaling to phosphorylate the Integrator subunit INTS12, thus promoting Integrator recruitment to CSB-bound, stalled RNA polymerase II (Pol II) and facilitating Pol II removal during efficient transcription-coupled nucleotide excision repair.

ICYMI: New online: Integrator subunit INTS12 links ribotoxic stress to transcription-coupled nucleotide excision repair

Zscan4 enables the formation of the Z compartment Nature Structural & Molecular Biology, Published online: 26 February 2026; doi:10.1038/s41594-026-01764-0The chromatin environment constitutes a mutable and tunable timer of early development that dictates timely and fine-tuned expression of certain transcriptional programs. In a recent study in Nature Structural & Molecular Biology, the authors describe a nuclear Z compartment that forms in early totipotent-like mouse cells.

New online: Zscan4 enables the formation of the Z compartment

Integrator subunit INTS12 links ribotoxic stress to transcription-coupled nucleotide excision repair Nature Structural & Molecular Biology, Published online: 26 February 2026; doi:10.1038/s41594-026-01766-yLi, Li, Yang and Huang et al. show that ultraviolet-induced ribotoxic stress activates ZAK signaling to phosphorylate the Integrator subunit INTS12, thus promoting Integrator recruitment to CSB-bound, stalled RNA polymerase II (Pol II) and facilitating Pol II removal during efficient transcription-coupled nucleotide excision repair.

New online: Integrator subunit INTS12 links ribotoxic stress to transcription-coupled nucleotide excision repair

Transposable element–gene chimera cartography, origination and role in enhancing transcriptome plasticity Nature Structural & Molecular Biology, Published online: 25 February 2026; doi:10.1038/s41594-026-01757-zLeveraging long-read RNA sequencing and multiomics analyses, Cheon and Alvstad et al. systematically map transposable element (TE)-derived isoforms across species and cell states, revealing RNA quality control mechanisms regulating TE–gene chimeras that shape transcriptome plasticity.

ICYMI: New online: Transposable element–gene chimera cartography, origination and role in enhancing transcriptome plasticity

Chromatin spatial analysis by METALoci unveils sex-determining 3D regulatory hubs Nature Structural & Molecular Biology, Published online: 24 February 2026; doi:10.1038/s41594-026-01749-zMETALoci, a new three-dimensional genome computational tool, reveals a major rewiring of regulatory interactions during sex determination. By combining this method with transgenic models, the authors identify a noncoding regulatory region at the Fgf9 locus and reveal that Meis genes are key regulators of sexual differentiation.

ICYMI: New online: Chromatin spatial analysis by METALoci unveils sex-determining 3D regulatory hubs

Transposable element–gene chimera cartography, origination and role in enhancing transcriptome plasticity Nature Structural & Molecular Biology, Published online: 25 February 2026; doi:10.1038/s41594-026-01757-zLeveraging long-read RNA sequencing and multiomics analyses, Cheon and Alvstad et al. systematically map transposable element (TE)-derived isoforms across species and cell states, revealing RNA quality control mechanisms regulating TE–gene chimeras that shape transcriptome plasticity.

New online: Transposable element–gene chimera cartography, origination and role in enhancing transcriptome plasticity

The AlphaGenome deep learning model predicts effects of non-coding variants Nature Structural & Molecular Biology, Published online: 23 February 2026; doi:10.1038/s41594-026-01763-1Google’s DeepMind presents AlphaGenome, the largest multimodal DNA sequence model for non-coding regions so far. It advances the state of the art in almost all prediction tasks and offers a new unified tool to study the effects of genomic variation on regulatory cellular mechanisms. However, opportunities for further improvement remain.

ICYMI: New online: The AlphaGenome deep learning model predicts effects of non-coding variants

Chromatin spatial analysis by METALoci unveils sex-determining 3D regulatory hubs Nature Structural & Molecular Biology, Published online: 24 February 2026; doi:10.1038/s41594-026-01749-zMETALoci, a new three-dimensional genome computational tool, reveals a major rewiring of regulatory interactions during sex determination. By combining this method with transgenic models, the authors identify a noncoding regulatory region at the Fgf9 locus and reveal that Meis genes are key regulators of sexual differentiation.

New online: Chromatin spatial analysis by METALoci unveils sex-determining 3D regulatory hubs

The AlphaGenome deep learning model predicts effects of non-coding variants Nature Structural & Molecular Biology, Published online: 23 February 2026; doi:10.1038/s41594-026-01763-1Google’s DeepMind presents AlphaGenome, the largest multimodal DNA sequence model for non-coding regions so far. It advances the state of the art in almost all prediction tasks and offers a new unified tool to study the effects of genomic variation on regulatory cellular mechanisms. However, opportunities for further improvement remain.

New online: The AlphaGenome deep learning model predicts effects of non-coding variants

Global reorganization of genome architecture at the transition to gametogenesis Nature Structural & Molecular Biology, Published online: 20 February 2026; doi:10.1038/s41594-026-01747-1Huang, Rigau and colleagues observe major changes in how DNA is organized in early germ cells before they start developing into sperm or eggs. These results show that germline removes structural ‘memory’ of DNA folding to start fresh for the next generation.

ICYMI: New online: Global reorganization of genome architecture at the transition to gametogenesis

Core principles of autophagy initiation mechanisms Nature Structural & Molecular Biology, Published online: 20 February 2026; doi:10.1038/s41594-026-01752-4In this Review, Kotani and Nakatogawa discuss recent advances in our understanding of the molecular basis of autophagy induction and delineate how diverse mechanisms converge on core principles to ensure context-specific control of autophagy initiation.

ICYMI: New online: Core principles of autophagy initiation mechanisms

Core principles of autophagy initiation mechanisms Nature Structural & Molecular Biology, Published online: 20 February 2026; doi:10.1038/s41594-026-01752-4In this Review, Kotani and Nakatogawa discuss recent advances in our understanding of the molecular basis of autophagy induction and delineate how diverse mechanisms converge on core principles to ensure context-specific control of autophagy initiation.

New online: Core principles of autophagy initiation mechanisms

Global reorganization of genome architecture at the transition to gametogenesis Nature Structural & Molecular Biology, Published online: 20 February 2026; doi:10.1038/s41594-026-01747-1Huang, Rigau and colleagues observe major changes in how DNA is organized in early germ cells before they start developing into sperm or eggs. These results show that germline removes structural ‘memory’ of DNA folding to start fresh for the next generation.

New online: Global reorganization of genome architecture at the transition to gametogenesis

Structure and mechanism of antiphage retron Eco2 Nature Structural & Molecular Biology, Published online: 18 February 2026; doi:10.1038/s41594-026-01754-2This study shows how the bacterial retron Eco2 defends against viruses. Phage nucleases trigger activation of Eco2, which cuts RNAs, shuts down protein production and stops phage replication.

ICYMI: New online: Structure and mechanism of antiphage retron Eco2

The phage–bacteria arms race Nature Structural & Molecular Biology, Published online: 18 February 2026; doi:10.1038/s41594-026-01768-wIn this issue of Nature Structural & Molecular Biology, we are publishing two studies investigating the mechanisms of how bacteria fight phage invasion, and how phages fight back.

ICYMI: New online: The phage–bacteria arms race