Advertisement
TAK1, the primary cilium and heart development

August 4, 2026

TAK1, the primary cilium and heart development

Pathogenic variants in genes encoding non-canonical TGFB signaling components, such as TAK1, can cause multisystem disorders that include congenital heart disease, but their specific function remain unclear. Canan Doganli, Oskar Thomsen, Daniel Baird, Yeasmeen Ali and colleagues show that TAK1 signaling is activated at the primary cilium and regulates cardiomyocyte differentiation.

Image credit: pbio.3003902

PLOS Biologue

Community blog for PLOS Biology, PLOS Genetics and PLOS Computational Biology.

PLOS BIOLOGUE

08/06/2026

Research Article

Asymmetric chromatin accessibility and AP axis specification

Anterior posterior (AP) axis formation varies across fly species where distinct determinants regulate chromatin accessibility during early embryogenesis. Ezra Amiri, Muzi Li, Shelby Blythe, Urs Schmidt-Ott and co-workers investigate chromatin accessibility and gene expression during axis specification in the moth fly Clogmia albipunctata, revealing complex temporal patterns of chromatin accessibility across nuclear cycles.

Image credit: pbio.3003896

Asymmetric chromatin accessibility and AP axis specification

Recently Published Articles

See all articles
Current Issue

Current Issue June 2026

08/04/2026

Research Article

Meal timing entrains brainstem circadian rhythms

The dorsal vagal complex (DVC) encompasses a multi-component brainstem satiety center, and has rhythmic activity that is independent of the primary hypothalamic clock. Lukasz Chrobok, Charlotte Muir, Tanya Chonkria Kaur, Hugh Piggins and co-authors examine the factors that entrain these brainstem oscillations, revealing that circadian rhythms in the DVC are entrained by meal timing.

Image credit: pbio.3003936

Meal timing entrains brainstem circadian rhythms

08/04/2026

Research Article

RNA-binding proteins in C. elegans developmental timing

RNA binding proteins (RBPs) are reported to bind numerous RNAs, but the functional relevance of such broad binding specificity is unclear. Jana Brunner, Helge Großhans and colleagues show that only two targets of LIN28 RBP, let-7 miRNA and lin-46 mRNA, are required to regulate cell identity and developmental tempo in C. elegans.

Image credit: pbio.3003892

RNA-binding proteins in C. elegans developmental timing

08/03/2026

Research Article

Modulating chronic pain

Cholinergic circuits in the ventral pallidum contribute to pain processing, but their organization and receptor mechanisms in acute and neuropathic pain remain unclear. Ya-Wei Ji, Xiang-Ying Xu, Qiang-Qiang Zhou and co-workers reveal that subthalamic glutamatergic inputs drive cholinergic activity, with α4-containing receptors on GABAergic neurons mediating hyperalgesia.

Modulating chronic pain

Image credit: pbio.3003923

08/03/2026

Methods and Resources

Maturation of the postnatal small intestine

During the postnatal period, the small intestinal epithelium transitions from placental energy supply to enteral feeding. Johannes Schöneich, Aline Dupont, Mathias Hornef and co-authors systematically analyze the temporal, spatial and cellular diversity during the maturation of murine postnatal mucosal tissues and the establishment of host-microbe homeostasis.

Maturation of the postnatal small intestine

Image credit: pbio.3003212

07/31/2026

Research Article

Endogenous rhythms and speech comprehension

Endogenous brain rhythms are thought to support speech comprehension via auditory and motor interactions, but direct evidence for their role remains limited. Christina Lubinus, Johanna Rimmele and co-workers show that theta frequencies in superior temporal gyrus predict speech tracking, with motor rhythms enhancing tracking only in individuals with high auditory-motor synchronization.

Endogenous rhythms and speech comprehension

Image credit: Felix Bernoully

08/04/2026

Perspective

Is the scientific paper still a fraud?

How we write scientific papers does not reflect how we do science. This Perspective invites us to consider the structure of the scientific paper, and the need to celebrate the human in an age when AI threatens to overwhelm us.

Is the scientific paper still a fraud?

Image credit: Roli Roberts

08/03/2026

Community Page

Grafify!

Creating accurate graphs and performing statistical analyses can be challenging for those who lack coding experience. This Community Page introduces "grafify online," a free, browser-based app for generating publication-quality graphs and performing statistical tests.

Grafify!

Image credit: pbio.3003909

07/27/2026

Perspective

Where next for structural bioinformatics?

Structural bioinformatics aims to answer biological questions by considering biomolecular structures at scale. This Perspective argues that now that we have accurate predictions, we need to ask what we can learn from them.

Where next for structural bioinformatics?

Image credit: pbio.3001962

07/22/2026

Perspective

Prioritize data reanalysis in the era of AI

This Perspective argues that the next era of biological discovery is likely to emerge from AI-driven data reanalysis, but realizing its full potential will require standards, validation and responsible use.

Prioritize data reanalysis in the era of AI

Image credit: Sivan & Talia Abel

Get new content from PLOS Biology in your inbox

PLOS Biology | ISSN: 1545-7885 (online)