Featured
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Research Briefing |
Zebrafish embryo cells need no receptors to receive signals from afar
Thin cellular protrusions called cytonemes can transport ligand–receptor complexes from a signal-producing cell to a receiving cell in the developing zebrafish embryo. Even cells lacking the receptor can be activated by this signalling system.
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Article
| Open AccessCytoneme-mediated transport of active Wnt5b–Ror2 complexes in zebrafish
In zebrafish embryos, active complexes of Wnt5b and its membrane-bound receptor Ror2 are transported between cells via cellular protrusions called cytonemes to initiate paracrine Wnt5b signalling in cells that do not endogenously express the receptor.
- Chengting Zhang
- , Lucy Brunt
- & Steffen Scholpp
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Article
| Open AccessCryo-EM structures of PP2A:B55–FAM122A and PP2A:B55–ARPP19
Cryo-electron microscopy structures of the PP2A:B55 holoenzyme bound to its inhibitors ARPP19 and FAM122A show distinct binding modes of the two inhibitors.
- Sathish K. R. Padi
- , Margaret R. Vos
- & Wolfgang Peti
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Article
| Open AccessMitochondrial dysfunction abrogates dietary lipid processing in enterocytes
Mitochondria have a pivotal role in the transport of dietary lipids in enterocytes, a finding that might have relevance to understanding the aberrant gastrointestinal function in patients with mitochondrial disorders.
- Chrysanthi Moschandrea
- , Vangelis Kondylis
- & Manolis Pasparakis
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News & Views |
Muscle immune cells protect mitochondrial organelles during exercise
A suppressive type of immune cell called a regulatory T cell has a key role in helping muscles to adapt to exercise — guarding muscle mitochondrial organelles against damage mediated by proinflammatory factors generated during physical activity.
- Gerald Coulis
- & S. Armando Villalta
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News & Views |
Wetlands, neutrinos and warning coloration: kicking off a year of remarkable science
Highlights from News & Views published in early 2023.
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News & Views |
Modified messenger-RNA components alter the encoded protein
Modified components of messenger RNA can cause the protein-production machinery to stall during the process of translation. This might change the protein being made, a finding with implications for vaccines or therapies.
- Nicholas J. Tursi
- & David B. Weiner
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Article |
Genetic risk converges on regulatory networks mediating early type 2 diabetes
Integration of multiomics data with functional analysis of pancreatic tissues from individuals with early-stage type 2 diabetes indicates that the genetic risk converges on RFX6, which regulates chromatin architecture at multiple risk loci.
- John T. Walker
- , Diane C. Saunders
- & Marcela Brissova
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News |
Wi-Fi for neurons: first map of wireless nerve signals unveiled in worms
Studies find a densely connected network of neurons that communicate over long distances, rather than across synapses.
- Claudia López Lloreda
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News & Views |
Stress granules offer first aid for leaky organelles
Assemblies of protein and RNA called stress granules appear in response to stressful conditions. The discovery that these granules can plug holes in punctured organelles sheds light on cellular defences against damage and infection.
- Stephen P. Plassmeyer
- & Alex S. Holehouse
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Article
| Open AccessStress granules plug and stabilize damaged endolysosomal membranes
Stress granules function at sites of intracellular membrane damage by forming on and stabilizing the ruptured membrane and promoting membrane repair.
- Claudio Bussi
- , Agustín Mangiarotti
- & Maximiliano G. Gutierrez
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News |
This hybrid baby monkey is made of cells from two embryos
The work paves the way for scientists to use chimeric primates to study human diseases.
- Carissa Wong
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Nature Index |
Four science stars on the fast-track to impact
With the world at their feet, these prolific young researchers are making their mark.
- Sandy Ong
- & Chris Woolston
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Perspective |
The power and potential of mitochondria transfer
The mechanisms by which mitochondria are transferred between cells and how intercellular mitochondria transfer regulates physiological processes and disease pathogenesis are discussed.
- Nicholas Borcherding
- & Jonathan R. Brestoff
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News |
New explanation for infertility: eggs lacking a mysterious ‘lattice’
The discovery of a ‘storage locker’ for essential proteins could explain some cases of infertility.
- Gayathri Vaidyanathan
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Article |
Condensin dysfunction is a reproductive isolating barrier in mice
Species divergence in condensin regulation and centromere organization between the mice Mus musculus domesticus and Mus spretus drives chromosome decondensation and mis-segregation in their F1 hybrid oocytes, reducing female fertility.
- Warif El Yakoubi
- & Takashi Akera
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Article
| Open AccessEpigenetic regulation during cancer transitions across 11 tumour types
A pan-cancer epigenetic and transcriptomic atlas identifies epigenetic drivers associated with cancer transitions.
- Nadezhda V. Terekhanova
- , Alla Karpova
- & Li Ding
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Article |
Cryo-EM structure of the human cardiac myosin filament
The intricate molecular architecture and interactions of the human cardiac myosin filament offer insights into cardiac physiology, disease and drug therapy.
- Debabrata Dutta
- , Vu Nguyen
- & Roger Craig
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Article |
CHIT1-positive microglia drive motor neuron ageing in the primate spinal cord
Motor neuron senescence and neuroinflammation with microglial hyperactivation are intertwined hallmarks of spinal cord ageing.
- Shuhui Sun
- , Jiaming Li
- & Guang-Hui Liu
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Obituary |
Ian Wilmut, embryologist who helped to produce Dolly the sheep (1944–2023)
Developmental biologist who led team that cloned the first mammal using adult cells.
- Sarah Franklin
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Article |
Disruption of sugar nucleotide clearance is a therapeutic vulnerability of cancer cells
An enzyme called UXS1 that converts one sugar nucleotide to another is needed more in some cancer cells than in normal cells, providing a potential weakness that can be exploited therapeutically.
- Mihir B. Doshi
- , Namgyu Lee
- & Dohoon Kim
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Article
| Open AccessMacromolecular condensation buffers intracellular water potential
Water thermodynamics drive changes in macromolecular assembly that rapidly restore intracellular water availability in response to physiological fluctuations in temperature, pressure and osmotic strength.
- Joseph L. Watson
- , Estere Seinkmane
- & Emmanuel Derivery
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News |
Anti-ageing molecule boosts fertility in ageing mice
‘Undeniably groundbreaking’ work shows that declining egg quality in older mice can be reversed with a dietary supplement.
- Gemma Conroy
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Article
| Open AccessApoptotic stress causes mtDNA release during senescence and drives the SASP
During senescence, minority mitochondrial outer membrane permeabilization leads to the release of mtDNA into the cytosol through BAX and BAK macropores, in turn activating the cGAS–STING pathway, a major regulator of the senescence-associated secretory phenotype.
- Stella Victorelli
- , Hanna Salmonowicz
- & João F. Passos
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Article
| Open AccessAn extra-erythrocyte role of haemoglobin body in chondrocyte hypoxia adaption
Haemoglobin produced by chondrocytes forms eosin-positive haemoglobin bodies in their cytoplasm, and deletion of these bodies causes severe hypoxia.
- Feng Zhang
- , Bo Zhang
- & Qiang Sun
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Outlook |
Respiratory syncytial virus co-infections might conspire to worsen disease
Emerging evidence suggests that pathogens can pair up to work together against immune system defences.
- Katherine Bourzac
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Outlook |
Research round-up: respiratory syncytial virus
Why monitoring sewers could help to detect outbreaks, how RSV and flu viruses can couple together and other highlights.
- Liam Drew
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Article
| Open AccessProteome census upon nutrient stress reveals Golgiphagy membrane receptors
A proteomics analysis demonstrates that, during nutrient stress, mammalian cells prioritize degradation by autophagy of membrane proteins and identifies receptors that mediate this process at the Golgi and also have a role in Golgi remodelling during neuronal differentiation.
- Kelsey L. Hickey
- , Sharan Swarup
- & J. Wade Harper
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Article
| Open AccessTransgenic ferret models define pulmonary ionocyte diversity and function
Conditional genetic ferret models enable ionocyte lineage tracing, ionocyte ablation and ionocyte-specific deletion of CFTR to elucidate the roles of pulmonary ionocyte biology and function during human health and disease.
- Feng Yuan
- , Grace N. Gasser
- & John F. Engelhardt
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News Feature |
FedEx for your cells: this biological delivery service could treat disease
Researchers want to know why cells produce tiny packages called vesicles — and whether these bundles could be used for therapy.
- Alison Abbott
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Technology Feature |
Catching proteins at play: the method revealing the cell’s inner mysteries
Cryo-electron tomography is a hugely promising tool in visual proteomics — if researchers can work out what they are seeing.
- Michael Eisenstein
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News & Views |
Bacteria deliver water channels to infect plants
A wide range of harmful bacteria introduce proteins into plant cells. Some of these proteins move to the cell membrane and serve as channels for water and nutrients, creating favourable conditions for bacterial growth beside plant cells.
- Gwyn A. Beattie
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News & Views |
Dynamic regulation of messenger RNA structure controls translation
During translation, messenger RNA guides protein production, and certain conditions can favour particular proteins. Helicase enzymes and mRNA structure control translation during defence responses in plants.
- Yizhu Lin
- & Stephen N. Floor
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News & Views |
Previously unknown pathway for lipid biosynthesis discovered
The pathway used by mammalian cells to make triglyceride lipids when supplies of fat molecules are high has long been known. A route that works when fat supplies are low has now been discovered.
- Jean E. Schaffer
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Article
| Open AccessLTP induction by structural rather than enzymatic functions of CaMKII
Several independent lines of evidence demonstrated long-term potentiation induction by a structural function of calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II rather than by its enzymatic activity.
- Jonathan E. Tullis
- , Matthew E. Larsen
- & K. Ulrich Bayer
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Article
| Open AccessIdentification of an alternative triglyceride biosynthesis pathway
Triacylglycerols are an energy source produced in humans by DGAT1 and DGAT2, but disrupting these enzymes reveals a noncanonical pathway involving the protein DIESL (formerly TMEM68) and its regulator TMX1, which is important during lipid scarcity.
- Gian-Luca McLelland
- , Marta Lopez-Osias
- & Thijn R. Brummelkamp
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Article
| Open AccessNon-cell-autonomous cancer progression from chromosomal instability
Chromosomal instability in cancer is linked to endoplasmic reticulum stress signalling, immune suppression and metastasis, which is mediated by the cGAS–STING pathway, suppression of which can reduce metastasis.
- Jun Li
- , Melissa J. Hubisz
- & Samuel F. Bakhoum
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Article |
OPA1 helical structures give perspective to mitochondrial dysfunction
Cryo-electron microscopy structures of OPA1, mutations of which are associated with the disease dominant optic atrophy, provide insight into how structural features of OPA1 enable this protein to mediate mitochondrial-membrane fusion and remodelling.
- Sarah B. Nyenhuis
- , Xufeng Wu
- & Jenny E. Hinshaw
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Article |
Structural mechanism of mitochondrial membrane remodelling by human OPA1
Human OPA1 embeds itself into cardiolipin-containing membranes through a lipid-binding paddle domain, and OPA1 oligomerization through multiple assembly interfaces promotes the helical assembly of a flexible OPA1 lattice on the membrane, driving mitochondrial fusion in cells.
- Alexander von der Malsburg
- , Gracie M. Sapp
- & Halil Aydin
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Article |
Increased hyaluronan by naked mole-rat Has2 improves healthspan in mice
Mice overexpressing Has2 from the naked mole-rat showed an increase in hyaluronan levels in several tissues, and a lower incidence of spontaneous and induced cancer, attenuated inflammation through several pathways, extended lifespan and improved healthspan.
- Zhihui Zhang
- , Xiao Tian
- & Vera Gorbunova
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News |
What is an embryo? Scientists say definition needs to change
Lab-grown structures with the potential to develop into fetuses should be defined — and regulated — as embryos, some researchers say.
- Philip Ball
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Article
| Open AccessEndothelial sensing of AHR ligands regulates intestinal homeostasis
Single-cell transcriptomics and in vivo challenge models establish a key role for the aryl hydrocarbon receptor in regulating the function of enteric endothelial cells in response to environmental cues.
- Benjamin G. Wiggins
- , Yi-Fang Wang
- & Chris Schiering
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Nature Index |
How China is capturing attention with landmark research
From ancient sea species to clues on comets, papers by the country’s talented scientists are regularly making headlines.
- Gemma Conroy
- , Pratik Pawar
- & Sian Powell
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Article |
Neuronal migration prevents spatial competition in retinal morphogenesis
Experiments in zebrafish and human tissues show that, during retinal morphogenesis, emerging photoreceptor cells migrate in a bidirectional manner, which lessens competition for space and helps to ensure that the retina is formed correctly.
- Mauricio Rocha-Martins
- , Elisa Nerli
- & Caren Norden
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Article
| Open AccessTRIM5α restricts poxviruses and is antagonized by CypA and the viral protein C6
The well-characterized HIV restriction factor TRIM5α also restricts orthopoxviruses and is countered by the viral protein C6 and the proviral activity of CypA, which in turn is antagonized by CsA and derivatives alisporivir and NIM811.
- Yiqi Zhao
- , Yongxu Lu
- & Geoffrey L. Smith
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Article |
GPCR activation and GRK2 assembly by a biased intracellular agonist
Structural studies on the complex containing G-protein-coupled receptor kinase 2 (GRK2), neurotensin receptor 1 (NTSR1), Gαq and the arrestin-biased ligand SBI-553 provide insights into these interactions and a foundation for the design of arrestin-biased ligands for G-protein-coupled receptors.
- Jia Duan
- , Heng Liu
- & H. Eric Xu
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Article
| Open AccessCentral role of Tim17 in mitochondrial presequence protein translocation
Tim17 contains conserved negative charges close to the intermembrane space side of the bilayer, which are essential to initiate presequence protein translocation along a distinct transmembrane cavity of Tim17 for both classes of preproteins.
- Laura F. Fielden
- , Jakob D. Busch
- & Nils Wiedemann
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Article |
Mammary duct luminal epithelium controls adipocyte thermogenic programme
In mice, sympathetic nerves associated with female mammary glands control the secretion of thermogenesis-controlling factors by epithelial cells in the adipocyte niche, revealing sex-specific differences in adipose thermogenesis.
- Sanil Patel
- , Njeri Z. R. Sparman
- & Prashant Rajbhandari
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News & Views |
Hotly awaited structures obtained for the human protein UCP1
The protein UCP1 helps to release energy as heat in brown fat. Structures of human UCP1 provide crucial information about its mechanism of action, and might aid drug design for obesity and various metabolism-associated complications.
- Michael J. Gaudry
- & Martin Jastroch
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