A proteogenomic study reclassified pituitary neuroendocrine tumors into seven subtypes. Each subtype has specific potential treatment targets, which is summarized as the tree in the image. This new, treatment-oriented classification represents a breakthrough for selecting appropriate therapeutic interventions for this highly heterogeneous disease. See page 1047–1067 by Fan Zhang et al. for details.

The image describes a cute boy wearing a searchlight hat and riding a bamboo dragonfly at night, illuminating the DNA at his feet. In DNA imaging, the dCas9:sgRNA complex (the cute boy and dragonfly) might act as a “seed” at target DNA loci, enabling rapid aggregation of foldon-GFP-PCP and sgRNA-2×PP7 through phase separation to light up local DNAs in living cells. See page 969–981 by Xin-Yuan Lyu et al. for details.

The phylogenetic tree covering 251 different varieties of rice form a badge together with the ear of rice consisting of rice grains in different colors. This badge pattern is the epitome of the work that rice super pan-genome from large natural populations captures genetic diversity and reveals genomic complexity. Meanwhile, it can be seen as a tribute to our ancestors who created the iconic terraces (illustrated in paper cut style) in rice farming civilization for their wisdom and diligence. Cover art is contributed by Zisong Ma. See page 878–896 by Lianguang Shang et al. for details.

Nucleosome remodeling of the paternal genome during the first 12 h after fertilization in mice. The knotted ropes represent chromatins in the nucleus. In the first 3 h after fertilization, the protamine (pink knots) on paternal DNA was replaced by histone (yellow knots). Then the nucleosome positioning pattern was continually rebuilt to form nucleosome depletion regions at promoters and transcription factor binding sites, which were represented by more complex knots. See page 801-813 by Chenfei Wang et al. for details.

The image describes a Chinese fairy tale, the “Magpie Bridge Meeting”. On the night of the lunar Double-Seventh Festival, magpies form a bridge across the Milky Way to reunite two separated lovers: The Cowherd and the Weaver Girl. Ddx3xb phase separation (Magpie bridge) promoted the degradation of maternal RNA (overcoming the obstruction of the Milky Way) and the activation of zygotic genes (the silk spun by the Cowherd and Weaver Girl after reunion).See page 715–728 by Boyang Shi et al. for details.

The cover describes the famous story of Trojan horse in ancient Greek history. This story reflects how tumor-originated oncometabolite R-2-hydroxyglutarate (R-2-HG, Trojan horse) enters vascular endothelial cells via its new transporter SLC1A1 (city gate). R-2-HG entry is accompanied by Na+(soldiers hiding in the Trojan horse) that triggers downstream events to enhance tumor angiogenesis. See page 638-658 by Xiaomin Wang et al. for details.

Radiotherapy (light provided by electricity infrastructure) combined with VEGF-C that augments MLVs (roads constructed by road construction team) together promotes antigen-presenting DC trafficking (locally grown fruits transported by truck), resulting in effective glioma treatment (poverty elimination). See pages 543-554 by Changping Zhou et al. for details.

The image describes an ancient Chinese myth “Hou Yi Shoots the Suns”, wherein Hou Yi was tasked to save people by shooting nine extra buring suns. Voltage-gated H+ channel Hv1 was unexpectedly identified in the sensory neurons; inhibiting neuroinflammation (symbolized by the burning suns) by targeting Hv1 genetically or pharmacologically using a newly-discovered inhibitor (symbolized by arrow) alleviates chronic inflammatory pain and morphine-induced adverse side effects. The cover art is contributed by Keyu Yu. See page 461–476 by Qiansen Zhang et al. for details.

The theme of face-changing in Beijing Opera reflects the fate conversion of embryonic vascular endothelial cells. Along with the change of face are the colors of costume, fan, waves and fish, alluding to the widespread endothelial fate conversion. Direction of the swimming fish upstream represents a venous-to-arterial fate change as opposed to the direction of blood flow from artery to the vein. See page 333-348 by Siyuan Hou et al. for details. Cover art is contributed by Wenxi Ye.

The image describes a Chinese fairy tale, the “King Yu tamed the flood”, wherein King Yu recruited and directed people to mend the broken river wall. Pre-ribosomal RNA interacts with MDC1 and may direct repair factors, such as TopBP1 and BRCA1, to DNA double-strand breaks in the XY body of male germ cells as well as in somatic cells. See page 254-268 by Xiaochen Gai et al. for details.

A new type of membrane contact, the ERGIC–ERES contact, was identified as an essential structure for generating membrane precursors of the autophagosome. Here we employ Moonlight in the Lotus Pond to indicate the scenario where the lotus and the receptacle resemble the ERGIC and ERES, respectively. See page 119–138 by Shulin Li et al. for details.

The architecture of HSC expansion units resembles pomegranates. Whether a pomegranate is plump or wizened depends on its growing environment (on the lush or withered leaves and trunks).See page 38-53 by Suwei Gao et al. for details.