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Biomolecules
Special Issues
Cellular Quiescence and Dormancy
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Cellular Quiescence and Dormancy

A special issue of Biomolecules (ISSN 2218-273X). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Genetics".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 September 2025 | Viewed by 1855

Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Jürg Bähler

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Genetics, Evolution & Environment and Institute of Healthy Ageing, University College London, London, UK
Interests: gene regulation; genomics; transcriptomics; non-coding RNAs; genome function and evolution; fission yeast; cellular quiescence and ageing
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

We are pleased to invite your contributions to this Special Issue on cellular quiescence and dormancy. Most cells, including those in our bodies, spend most of their time in non-dividing, quiescent states, yet these quiescent cells are much less studied than proliferating cells. Quiescence is characterized by a reversible arrest of cell proliferation, reprogrammed gene expression and metabolism, and increased stress resilience and longevity. Remarkably, some specialized dormant cells, like microbial spores or plant seeds, can survive harsh conditions for centuries. Human cells alternating between cellular quiescence and proliferation are critical for ageing- and disease-associated processes, including stem-cell function, tissue homeostasis and renewal, immune responses, and drug resistance of tumours.

This Special Issue aims to highlight the understudied genetic, regulatory and molecular adaptations that characterize cellular quiescence and dormancy across diverse organisms. Both original research articles and reviews are welcome. Research areas will cover various cellular and molecular processes featured in non-dividing, quiescent cells of microbes, fungi, plants, and animals as fundamental strategies for their normal development, function, and maintenance or for their long-term survival in the face of adverse conditions. We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Prof. Dr. Jürg Bähler
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. Biomolecules 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.

Keywords

  • quiescent cells
  • dormant cells
  • biostasis
  • diapause
  • spores
  • dauer larva

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

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26 pages, 10228 KiB  
Article
Diapause and Anoxia-Induced Quiescence Are Unique States in Embryos of the Annual Killifish, Austrofundulus limnaeus
by Patrick R. Clouser, Claire L. Riggs, Amie L. T. Romney and Jason E. Podrabsky
Biomolecules 2025, 15(4), 515; https://doi.org/10.3390/biom15040515 - 1 Apr 2025
Viewed by 422
Abstract
Diapause is a state of developmental and metabolic dormancy that precedes exposure to environmental stresses. Yet, diapausing embryos are typically stress-tolerant. Evidence suggests that diapausing embryos “prepare” for stress as part of a gene expression program as they enter dormancy. Here, we investigate [...] Read more.
Diapause is a state of developmental and metabolic dormancy that precedes exposure to environmental stresses. Yet, diapausing embryos are typically stress-tolerant. Evidence suggests that diapausing embryos “prepare” for stress as part of a gene expression program as they enter dormancy. Here, we investigate if diapause II embryos of the annual killifish Austrofundulus limnaeus, which can survive for hundreds of days of anoxia, can mount a transcriptomic response to anoxic insult. Bulk RNAseq was used to characterize the transcriptomes of diapause II embryos exposed to normoxia, 4 h and 24 h anoxia, and 2 h and 24 h normoxic recovery from anoxia. Differential expression and gene ontology analyses were used to probe for pathways that may mitigate survival. Transcriptional factor analysis was used to predict potential mediators of this response. Diapausing embryos exhibited a robust transcriptomic response to anoxia and recovery that returns to near baseline conditions after 24 h. Anoxia induced an upregulation of genes involved in the integrated stress response, lipid metabolism, p38mapk kinase signaling, and apoptosis. Developmental and mitochondrial genes decreased. We conclude that diapause II embryos mount a robust transcriptomic stress response when faced with anoxic insult. This response is consistent with mediating expected challenges to cellular homeostasis in anoxia. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Cellular Quiescence and Dormancy)
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Review

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26 pages, 1958 KiB  
Review
Molecular and Biophysical Perspectives on Dormancy Breaking: Lessons from Yeast Spore
by Keiichiro Sakai, Yohei Kondo, Kazuhiro Aoki and Yuhei Goto
Biomolecules 2025, 15(5), 701; https://doi.org/10.3390/biom15050701 - 11 May 2025
Viewed by 423
Abstract
Dormancy is a physiological state that enables cells to survive under adverse conditions by halting their proliferation while retaining the capacity to resume growth when conditions become favorable. This remarkable transition between dormant and proliferative states occurs across a wide range of species, [...] Read more.
Dormancy is a physiological state that enables cells to survive under adverse conditions by halting their proliferation while retaining the capacity to resume growth when conditions become favorable. This remarkable transition between dormant and proliferative states occurs across a wide range of species, including bacteria, fungi, plants, and tardigrades. Among these organisms, yeast cells have emerged as powerful model systems for elucidating the molecular and biophysical principles governing dormancy and dormancy breaking. In this review, we provide a comprehensive summary of current knowledge on the molecular mechanisms underlying cellular dormancy, with particular focus on the two major model yeasts: Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Schizosaccharomyces pombe. Recent advances in multifaceted approaches—such as single-cell RNA-seq, proteomic analysis, and live-cell imaging—have revealed dynamic changes in gene expression, proteome composition, and viability. Furthermore, insights into the biophysical properties of the cytoplasm have offered new understanding of dormant cell regulation through changes in cytoplasmic fluidity. These properties contribute to both the remarkable stability of dormant cells and their capacity to exit dormancy upon environmental cues, deepening our understanding of fundamental cellular survival strategies across diverse species. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Cellular Quiescence and Dormancy)
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26 pages, 1243 KiB  
Review
The Critical Balance Between Quiescence and Reactivation of Neural Stem Cells
by Adam M. Elkin, Sarah Robbins, Claudia S. Barros and Torsten Bossing
Biomolecules 2025, 15(5), 672; https://doi.org/10.3390/biom15050672 - 6 May 2025
Viewed by 482
Abstract
Neural stem cells (NSC) are multipotent, self-renewing cells that give rise to all neural cell types within the central nervous system. During adulthood, most NSCs exist in a quiescent state which can be reactivated in response to metabolic and signalling changes, allowing for [...] Read more.
Neural stem cells (NSC) are multipotent, self-renewing cells that give rise to all neural cell types within the central nervous system. During adulthood, most NSCs exist in a quiescent state which can be reactivated in response to metabolic and signalling changes, allowing for long-term continuous neurogenesis and response to injury. Ensuring a critical balance between quiescence and reactivation is required to maintain the limited NSC reservoir and neural replenishment throughout lifetime. The precise mechanisms and signalling pathways behind this balance are at the focus of current research. In this review, we highlight and discuss recent studies using Drosophila, mammalian and zebrafish models contributing to the understanding of molecular mechanisms underlying quiescence and reactivation of NSCs. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Cellular Quiescence and Dormancy)
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