Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
9.4
4.8
Journals
Biomolecules
Special Issues
Cellular Quiescence and Dormancy
share announcement

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 809

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

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

  • Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
  • Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
  • Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
  • External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
  • e-Book format: Special Issues with more than 10 articles can be published as dedicated e-books, ensuring wide and rapid dissemination.

Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (1 paper)

Order results
Result details
Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

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 328
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)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:
 
Displaying articles 1-1
Back to TopTop