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News & Views |
Twenty-five years of nanoscale thermodynamics
A paper published in 1997 brought the thermodynamics of the nineteenth century into the twenty-first century — expanding the physics of transformations involved in the operation of steam engines to the realm of molecular motors.
- Chase P. Broedersz
- & Pierre Ronceray
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News & Views |
Bacteria swim faster when obstacles keep them in line
Adding particles or polymers to a fluid can make bacteria swim straighter — and therefore faster — than they do through water, by inducing a torque that changes their body alignment.
- Raphaël Jeanneret
- & Marco Polin
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Article |
The colloidal nature of complex fluids enhances bacterial motility
Bacteria swimming in colloidal suspensions are shown to behave similarly to those in polymer solutions revealing a mechanism for motile behaviour in complex fluids.
- Shashank Kamdar
- , Seunghwan Shin
- & Xiang Cheng
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Article |
A backbone-centred energy function of neural networks for protein design
Modelling by SCUBA of the backbone-centred energy surface extends the diversity of designable proteins.
- Bin Huang
- , Yang Xu
- & Haiyan Liu
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Article
| Open AccessNovel flight style and light wings boost flight performance of tiny beetles
Three-dimensional reconstructions of morphology and flight mechanics of the beetle Paratuposa placentis reveal adaptations that enable extremely small insects to fly at speeds similar to those of much larger insects.
- Sergey E. Farisenkov
- , Dmitry Kolomenskiy
- & Alexey A. Polilov
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Article |
Time-resolved structural analysis of an RNA-cleaving DNA catalyst
Using high-resolution NMR characterization, the kinetics and dynamics of the catalytic function of a DNAzyme are shown.
- Jan Borggräfe
- , Julian Victor
- & Manuel Etzkorn
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Article
| Open AccessHELQ is a dual-function DSB repair enzyme modulated by RPA and RAD51
HELQ is differentially regulated by RAD51, which stimulates helicase activity, and RPA, which inhibits helicase activity and stimulates annealing.
- Roopesh Anand
- , Erika Buechelmaier
- & Simon J. Boulton
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Article |
Morphogen gradient scaling by recycling of intracellular Dpp
A mechanism involving intracellular recycling of the morphogen Decapentaplegic (Dpp) underlies the scaling of the Dpp gradient in the Drosophila wing disc, and this is modulated by the extracellular factors Pentagone and Dally.
- Maria Romanova-Michaelides
- , Zena Hadjivasiliou
- & Marcos Gonzalez-Gaitan
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Article |
Structural architecture of the human NALCN channelosome
The structure of the human NALCN channelosome and a model of the gating mechanism are determined.
- Marc Kschonsak
- , Han Chow Chua
- & Jian Payandeh
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Article |
Architecture of the chloroplast PSI–NDH supercomplex in Hordeum vulgare
Cryo-electron microscopy structures of the photosystem I–NADH dehydrogenase-like supercomplex in barley provide structural details to elucidate the functions and regulation of photosystem I-dependent cyclic electron transport in chloroplasts.
- Liangliang Shen
- , Kailu Tang
- & Xing Zhang
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Article |
Structure and mechanism of the SGLT family of glucose transporters
Cryo-electron microscopy structures of the sodium–glucose cotransporter SGLT1 and a related transporter SMCT1 define the architecture of this protein family and provide insights into substrate binding and transport function.
- Lei Han
- , Qianhui Qu
- & Liang Feng
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Research Briefing |
Forceful synapses reveal mechanical interactions in the brain
Communication between neurons in the brain is generally associated with electrochemical signalling. Here we reveal that neurons can also communicate through the force generated by the enlargement of dendritic spines. This force is comparable to that of muscle contraction and might underlie learning and memory, suggesting that brain function is more mechanical than was previously thought.
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Article |
Mechanical actions of dendritic-spine enlargement on presynaptic exocytosis
A mechanism of mechanosensation and transduction in the presynaptic boutons is identified, in which sensing of fine pressure leads to enhanced neurotransmitter release.
- Hasan Ucar
- , Satoshi Watanabe
- & Haruo Kasai
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Article |
Dispatched uses Na+ flux to power release of lipid-modified Hedgehog
Cryo-electron microscopy studies show that dynamic coordination of Na+ in the ion channel of Dispatched homologue 1 and the transmembrane Na+ gradient have key roles in exporting lipid-modified Hedgehog protein signal.
- Qianqian Wang
- , Daniel E. Asarnow
- & Philip A. Beachy
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Systems-level effects of allosteric perturbations to a model molecular switch
Interface mutations in the GTPase switch protein Gsp1 (the yeast homologue of human RAN) allosterically affect the kinetics of the switch cycle, revealing a systems-level mechanism of multi-specificity.
- Tina Perica
- , Christopher J. P. Mathy
- & Tanja Kortemme
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Article |
Structure and assembly of the mammalian mitochondrial supercomplex CIII2CIV
SCAF1 is solely required for supercomplex CIII2CIV assembly and is not involved in the formation of the respirasome (supercomplex CICIII2CIV)
- Irene Vercellino
- & Leonid A. Sazanov
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Article |
Colorimetric histology using plasmonically active microscope slides
Colour contrast is added to unstained histological samples by using surface plasmon polaritons whose properties depend on the sample’s dielectric constant.
- Eugeniu Balaur
- , Sandra O’ Toole
- & Brian Abbey
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Article |
Architecture and assembly mechanism of native glycine receptors
Cryo-electron microscopy structures of pig glycine receptors indicate that they are predominantly assembled with 4α:1β stoichiometry via α-homotrimer and homotetramer intermediates.
- Hongtao Zhu
- & Eric Gouaux
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Article |
Nucleation landscape of biomolecular condensates
Experiments using endogenous and biomimetic condensates in cells show that nucleation in cells resembles the physical process in inanimate materials, but is tuned by biomolecular features.
- Shunsuke F. Shimobayashi
- , Pierre Ronceray
- & Clifford P. Brangwynne
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Article |
UTX condensation underlies its tumour-suppressive activity
Phase separation properties are a major determinant of UTX activity in chromatin regulation in tumour suppression, and are dependent on a core intrinsically disordered region of the protein.
- Bi Shi
- , Wei Li
- & Hao Jiang
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Article |
Structure of Geobacter pili reveals secretory rather than nanowire behaviour
Structural, functional and localization studies reveal that Geobacter sulfurreducens pili cannot behave as microbial nanowires, instead functioning in a similar way to secretion pseudopili to export cytochrome nanowires that are essential for extracellular electron transfer.
- Yangqi Gu
- , Vishok Srikanth
- & Nikhil S. Malvankar
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Article |
Cryo-EM structures of full-length Tetrahymena ribozyme at 3.1 Å resolution
Cryo-electron microscopy has been used to determine the structure of the Tetrahymena ribozyme (a catalytic RNA) at sufficiently high resolution to model side chains and metal ions.
- Zhaoming Su
- , Kaiming Zhang
- & Wah Chiu
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Article
| Open AccessHighly accurate protein structure prediction with AlphaFold
AlphaFold predicts protein structures with an accuracy competitive with experimental structures in the majority of cases using a novel deep learning architecture.
- John Jumper
- , Richard Evans
- & Demis Hassabis
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Article |
Structures of rhodopsin in complex with G-protein-coupled receptor kinase 1
Cryo-EM structures of complexes between GRK1 and rhodopsin shed light on how a small number of GRKs can selectively recognize and be activated by hundreds of different G-protein-coupled receptors.
- Qiuyan Chen
- , Manolo Plasencia
- & John J. G. Tesmer
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Article
| Open AccessStructural basis of early translocation events on the ribosome
Cryo-electron microscopy and single-molecule fluorescence methods are used to elucidate the mechanism of early translocation events on the bacterial ribosome.
- Emily J. Rundlet
- , Mikael Holm
- & Scott C. Blanchard
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Article |
Structure of a mammalian sperm cation channel complex
A structure of the sperm-specific CatSper complex features a number of additional components; together, these components and the CatSper complex are termed the CatSpermasome.
- Shiyi Lin
- , Meng Ke
- & Jianping Wu
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Article |
cAMP binding to closed pacemaker ion channels is non-cooperative
Direct monitoring of individual cAMP molecules binding to HCN ion channels reveals the binding dynamics underlying the distinct physiological responses of ion channel isoforms.
- David S. White
- , Sandipan Chowdhury
- & Baron Chanda
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Article |
Magnetic sensitivity of cryptochrome 4 from a migratory songbird
Cryptochrome 4 from the night-migratory European robin displays magnetically sensitive photochemistry in vitro, in which four successive flavin–tryptophan radical pairs generate magnetic-field effects and stabilize potential signalling states.
- Jingjing Xu
- , Lauren E. Jarocha
- & P. J. Hore
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Article |
Localization atomic force microscopy
A localization algorithm is applied to datasets obtained with conventional and high-speed atomic force microscopy to increase image resolution beyond the limits set by the radius of the tip used.
- George R. Heath
- , Ekaterina Kots
- & Simon Scheuring
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Article |
Structural basis of omega-3 fatty acid transport across the blood–brain barrier
Cryo-electron microscopy and molecular dynamics simulations reveal how MFSD2A transports essential omega-3 fatty acids across the blood–brain and blood–retina barriers as lysolipids.
- Rosemary J. Cater
- , Geok Lin Chua
- & Filippo Mancia
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Perspective |
The rise of intelligent matter
Inanimate matter is beginning to show some signs of basic intelligence—the ability to sense, actuate and use memory, as controlled by an internal communication network in functional materials.
- C. Kaspar
- , B. J. Ravoo
- & W. H. P. Pernice
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Article |
NORAD-induced Pumilio phase separation is required for genome stability
The noncoding RNA NORAD maintains genome stability in mammalian cells by sequestering Pumilio proteins in phase-separated compartments.
- Mahmoud M. Elguindy
- & Joshua T. Mendell
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Article |
Structural basis of antifolate recognition and transport by PCFT
Cryo-electron microscopy structures of PCFT in a substrate-free state and bound to the antifolate drug pemetrexed provide insights into how this protein recognizes folates and mediates their transport into cells.
- Joanne L. Parker
- , Justin C. Deme
- & Simon Newstead
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Article |
Distinct fission signatures predict mitochondrial degradation or biogenesis
Mitochondrial fission at the organelle periphery generates small daughter mitochondria that are removed by mitophagy whereas fission at the midzone leads to proliferation.
- Tatjana Kleele
- , Timo Rey
- & Suliana Manley
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Article
| Open AccessStructural basis of GABAB receptor–Gi protein coupling
Cryo-electron microscopy structure of heterodimeric GABAB receptor in complex with Gi1 protein reveals that the mode of G-protein binding in this class-C G-protein-coupled receptor differs from that of other classes.
- Cangsong Shen
- , Chunyou Mao
- & Jianfeng Liu
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Article |
The antibiotic darobactin mimics a β-strand to inhibit outer membrane insertase
Structural studies resolve how the antibiotic darobactin inhibits the bacterial BAM insertase.
- Hundeep Kaur
- , Roman P. Jakob
- & Sebastian Hiller
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Outline |
Video: The quantum world of diamonds
Defects in diamonds allow them to be used for a diverse array of applications.
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Outline |
Quantum diamond sensors
Synthetic versions of the super-hard gem stone are driving the development of a class of device with applications in biomedicine and beyond.
- Neil Savage
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Outline |
How quantum diamonds work: from imaging magnetic fields to detecting viruses
Diamonds, one of the hardest materials on Earth, are so strong that they can protect fragile quantum states that would otherwise survive only in a vacuum or at ultra-cold temperatures. Engineers are mastering the art of growing diamonds with special properties and detecting their quantum spins — opening up a range of sensing applications in the life sciences and elsewhere.
- Neil Savage
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Article |
Glutamate transporters have a chloride channel with two hydrophobic gates
Glutamate transporters conduct chloride ions through an aqueous channel with hydrophobic gates that forms during the glutamate transport cycle.
- Ichia Chen
- , Shashank Pant
- & Renae M. Ryan
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Article |
Structure and inhibition mechanism of the human citrate transporter NaCT
Structures of the human sodium-dependent citrate transporter NaCT in complexes with citrate or a small-molecule inhibitor reveal how the inhibitor—which binds to the same site as citrate—arrests the transport cycle of NaCT.
- David B. Sauer
- , Jinmei Song
- & Da-Neng Wang
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Article |
Cooperative epithelial phagocytosis enables error correction in the early embryo
Mechanical load-sharing enables the long-range cooperative uptake of apoptotic cells by multiple epithelial cells; and clearance of these apoptotic cells facilitates error correction, which is necessary for developmental robustness and survival of the embryo.
- Esteban Hoijman
- , Hanna-Maria Häkkinen
- & Verena Ruprecht
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Visualization of the mechanosensitive ion channel MscS under membrane tension
The authors report the structural characterization of the mechanically activated channel MscS in different membrane environments and show how the mechanosensation of MscS can be visualized.
- Yixiao Zhang
- , Csaba Daday
- & Thomas Walz
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Viscoelastic control of spatiotemporal order in bacterial active matter
Introducing viscoelasticity by addition of DNA into the fluid surrounding a suspension of Escherichia coli produces a giant oscillating vortex with a period controllable through the DNA concentration.
- Song Liu
- , Suraj Shankar
- & Yilin Wu
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Nature Podcast |
Audio long-read: Push, pull and squeeze – the hidden forces that shape life
Researchers are probing the subtle physical forces that sculpt cells and bodies.
- Amber Dance
- & Benjamin Thompson
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Article |
Integrated spatial genomics reveals global architecture of single nuclei
Multiplexed imaging of 3,660 chromosomal loci in individual mouse embryonic stem cells by DNA seqFISH+ with immunofluorescence of 17 chromatin marks and subnuclear structures reveals invariant organization of loci within individual cells, and heterogeneous and long-lived distinct combinatorial chromatin states in cellular subpopulations.
- Yodai Takei
- , Jina Yun
- & Long Cai
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Wetting regulates autophagy of phase-separated compartments and the cytosol
A theoretical model, in vitro reconstitution and in vivo experimentation show that competition between droplet surface tension and membrane sheet instability dictates the form and function of autophagosomal membranes.
- Jaime Agudo-Canalejo
- , Sebastian W. Schultz
- & Roland L. Knorr
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News Feature |
The secret forces that squeeze and pull life into shape
Scientists are getting to grips with the role of mechanical forces in the body, from embryo to adult.
- Amber Dance