Unveiling Novel Gene Functions: Mechanisms, Evolution and Applications

Dear Colleagues,

The discovery of novel gene functions transforms our understanding of biological systems and unlocks new possibilities for innovation in biotechnology, medicine, and agriculture. As technologies such as CRISPR, single-cell transcriptomics, proteomics, and advanced bioinformatics continue to evolve, they reveal genes’ unexpected and previously unknown roles in cellular processes, development, adaptation, and disease.

This Special Issue invites contributions to publish novel functions of genes, emphasizing their function reveal new layers of complexity in gene regulation, protein interactions, and evolutionary biology. Focusing on the intersection of gene function discovery and its broader implications, this Special Issue aims to highlight innovative approaches and transformative insights across various species and biological contexts.

Key topics of interest include, but are not limited to, the following:

Discovery of Novel Gene Functions and Mechanisms

• Case studies that identify previously unknown functions of genes in various biological contexts, such as metabolism, development, immunity, and environmental response.
• Functional roles of genes in previously unexplored pathways or cellular processes.
• Molecular and biochemical mechanisms through which genes achieve newly discovered functions.
• Insights into multifunctional genes (moonlighting genes) that play distinct roles in diverse cellular or developmental processes.
• Structural studies connecting gene products to their novel biological activities.

Evolution of Novel Gene Functions in Development and Diseases

• Studies tracing the functional divergence of homologous genes across species.
• Comparative analyses of gene function evolution in response to environmental or ecological pressures.
• Contributions of novel gene function to development, tissue differentiation, and organogenesis.
• Roles of genes in facilitating adaptation to environmental changes, such as stress tolerance or pathogen resistance.
• Discoveries of novel gene function in the onset, progression, or treatment of diseases, including cancer, neurodegenerative disorders, and infectious diseases.

This Special Issue will benefit from the description of technological advances in functional genomics and applications used to identify gene function.

• Cutting-edge tools and methods for elucidating gene functions, including high-throughput screens, synthetic biology, and system biology approaches.
• Applications of CRISPR, RNAi, or other gene-editing tools for the functional characterization of genes.
• Computational methods for predicting and validating novel gene functions by using multi-omics data.
• Using genes with novel functions to develop therapeutics, biomarkers, or diagnostic tools.
• Bioengineering efforts that exploit novel gene functions for industrial or environmental solutions, such as biofuel production or bioremediation.

Dr. Paola Bellosta
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Biology is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

• Novel Gene Mechanisms
• Molecular Pathways
• Systems Biology
• Moonlighting Genes
• Adaptive Evolution
• Synthetic Biology Applications