Table of contents

Correspondence

The road ahead for brain-circuit reconstruction p411

Kevan A. C. Martin

doi:10.1038/462411a

Darwin respected by his religious contemporaries p411

R. J. Berry

doi:10.1038/462411b

Why some relatives object to organ donation p411

David J. Hill

doi:10.1038/462411c

Brazil's system stops its natural wealth helping science p411

Sergio U. Dani

doi:10.1038/462411d

Opinion

International spaces promote peace p412

Lessons are still being learnt from the Antarctic Treaty, adopted 50 years ago this week. It set a visionary precedent for governing regions and resources beyond national jurisdictions, says Paul Arthur Berkman.

Paul Arthur Berkman

doi:10.1038/462412a

Full Text | PDF (493K)

Books and Arts

Some will go far to catch a falling star p414

Henner Busemann enjoys a hymn to the passionate collectors who fuelled the science of meteorites.

Henner Busemann reviews The Fallen Sky: An Intimate History of Shooting Stars by Christopher Cokinos

doi:10.1038/462414a

Full Text | PDF (700K)

A wake-up call to educators p415

Devorah Bennu reviews Crossing the Finish Line: Completing College at America's Public Universities by William G. Bowen, Matthew M. Chingos & Michael S. McPherson

doi:10.1038/462415a

Full Text | PDF (809K)

Quantum objects on show p416

Philip Ball reviews Worlds Within Worlds: Quantum Objects by Julian Voss-Andreae

doi:10.1038/462416a

Full Text | PDF (996K)

News and Views

Biodiversity: Skates on thin ice p417

The common skate is not at all common: this large marine fish has 'critically endangered' status. That it turns out to be not one species, but two, is a sharp reminder that good taxonomy must underpin conservation.

Nicholas K. Dulvy & John D. Reynolds

doi:10.1038/462417a

Full Text | PDF (1,871K)

Immunology: A helpers' guide to infection p418

Killer T cells were thought to patrol the body unhindered, freely gaining access to sites of infection. But it seems that, at least in some body tissues, helper T cells must pave the way for killer T-cell entry.

Thomas Gebhardt & Francis R. Carbone

doi:10.1038/462418a

Full Text | PDF (1,803K)

See also: Editor's summary

Solid-state physics: Silicon spintronics warms up p419

Electrical injection and detection of spin-polarized electrons in a silicon chip have now been demonstrated at room temperature, paving the way to the development of low-power semiconductor spintronics circuitry.

Michael E. Flatté

doi:10.1038/462419a

Full Text | PDF (1,477K)

See also: Editor's summary

Structural biology: Highly charged meetings p420

When it comes to proteins and their environments, opposites repel. So how is the highly charged, polar helix of a transmembrane ion channel accommodated by a non-polar membrane? Easily, if the charges are buried.

Anthony G. Lee

doi:10.1038/462420a

Full Text | PDF (1,073K)

See also: Editor's summary

Astrophysics: Assortment in the Galaxy p421

Observations of star clusters in the Milky Way defy the view that the constituents of these systems are almost invariably chemically alike. The outlying clusters could be the tattered relics of once larger systems.

Judith G. Cohen

doi:10.1038/462421a

Full Text | PDF (786K)

See also: Editor's summary

50 & 100 years ago p422

doi:10.1038/462422a

Full Text | PDF (769K)

Obituary: Paul C. Zamecnik (1912–2009) p423

Trailblazer in the study of protein synthesis.

Thoru Pederson

doi:10.1038/462423a

Full Text | PDF (806K)

Insight: Biomaterials -

Insight: Biomaterials

Biomaterials p425

Rosamund Daw & Stefano Tonzani

doi:10.1038/462425a

Full Text | PDF (1,030K)

Inspiration and application in the evolution of biomaterials p426

Nathaniel Huebsch & David J. Mooney

doi:10.1038/nature08601

Abstract | Full Text | PDF (3,088K)

Designing materials to direct stem-cell fate p433

Matthias P. Lutolf, Penney M. Gilbert & Helen M. Blau

doi:10.1038/nature08602

Abstract | Full Text | PDF (6,946K)

Biomaterial systems for mechanosensing and actuation p442

Peter Fratzl & Friedrich G. Barth

doi:10.1038/nature08603

Abstract | Full Text | PDF (1,999K)

Materials engineering for immunomodulation p449

Jeffrey A. Hubbell, Susan N. Thomas & Melody A. Swartz

doi:10.1038/nature08604

Abstract | Full Text | PDF (3,460K)

Drivers of biodiagnostic development p461

David A. Giljohann & Chad A. Mirkin

doi:10.1038/nature08605

Abstract | Full Text | PDF (2,512K)

Articles

Structure of the formate transporter FocA reveals a pentameric aquaporin-like channel p467

The formate–nitrite transporter family, of which FocA is a representative member, is known to transport short-chain acids in bacteria, archaea, fungi, algae and parasites; however, the structure and transport mechanism of these transporters remain unknown. Here, study of the crystal structure of Escherichia coli FocA reveals that the overall structure of FocA closely resembles that of aquaporin, suggesting that it is in fact a channel, rather than a transporter.

Yi Wang, Yongjian Huang, Jiawei Wang, Chao Cheng, Weijiao Huang, Peilong Lu, Ya-Nan Xu, Pengye Wang, Nieng Yan & Yigong Shi

doi:10.1038/nature08610

PDB code
- 3KCU
- 3KCV

3D view
- 3KCU
- 3KCV

Abstract | Full Text | PDF (1,375K) | Supplementary information

See also: Editor's summary

Structure and hydration of membranes embedded with voltage-sensing domains p473

Despite the growing number of X-ray crystal structures of membrane proteins, direct structural information about proteins in their native membrane environment remains scarce. Neutron diffraction, solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and molecular dynamics simulations are now used to investigate the structure and hydration of bilayer membranes containing S1–S4 voltage-sensing domains.

Dmitriy Krepkiy, Mihaela Mihailescu, J. Alfredo Freites, Eric V. Schow, David L. Worcester, Klaus Gawrisch, Douglas J. Tobias, Stephen H. White & Kenton J. Swartz

doi:10.1038/nature08542

Abstract | Full Text | PDF (1,429K) | Supplementary information

Letters

Enrichment by supernovae in globular clusters with multiple populations p480

The globular star clusters omega Centauri and M 22 are thought to be the remaining cores of disrupted dwarf galaxies, but they are viewed as exceptional. Here, calcium abundances for seven globular clusters are reported and compared to omega Centauri. The results lead the authors to conclude that these globular clusters are also probably the relics of more massive primeval dwarf galaxies that merged and disrupted to form the proto-Galaxy.

Jae-Woo Lee, Young-Woon Kang, Jina Lee & Young-Wook Lee

doi:10.1038/nature08565

First paragraph | Full Text | PDF (800K) | Supplementary information

The cluster Terzan 5 as a remnant of a primordial building block of the Galactic bulge p483

omega Centauri is the only globular star cluster in the Galactic halo known to have multiple stellar populations with a significant spread in iron abundance and age. But now Terzan 5, a globular-cluster-like system in the Galactic bulge, is reported to have two stellar populations with different iron contents and ages. So Terzan 5 could be the surviving remnant of one of the primordial building blocks which are thought to merge and form galaxy bulges.

F. R. Ferraro, E. Dalessandro, A. Mucciarelli, G. Beccari, R. M. Rich, L. Origlia, B. Lanzoni, R. T. Rood, E. Valenti, M. Bellazzini, S. M. Ransom & G. Cocozza

doi:10.1038/nature08581

First paragraph | Full Text | PDF (1,609K) | Supplementary information

Two-dimensional normal-state quantum oscillations in a superconducting heterostructure p487

Heavily doped semiconductors, which can exhibit superconductivity, and low-dimensional superconducting thin films are currently limited by interface scattering, electronic or atomic-scale disorder. Here, the fabrication of a high-quality superconducting layer within a thin-film heterostructure based on SrTiO₃ is reported. By selectively doping a narrow region of SrTiO₃ a two-dimensional superconductor is formed that should provide a model system in which to explore the quantum transport and interplay of both superconducting and normal electrons.

Y. Kozuka, M. Kim, C. Bell, B. G. Kim, Y. Hikita & H. Y. Hwang

doi:10.1038/nature08566

First paragraph | Full Text | PDF (473K) | Supplementary information

See also: Editor's summary

Electrical creation of spin polarization in silicon at room temperature p491

Spintronics aims to represent digital information using spin orientation rather than electron charge, ideally at room temperature and in silicon, which is already ubiquitous in present-day technologies. But so far successful control of spin has only been achieved for electrons and at low temperatures. Now room-temperature injection, manipulation and detection of spin polarization of both electrons and their positively charged counterparts (holes) brings the realization of silicon spintronic devices closer.

Saroj P. Dash, Sandeep Sharma, Ram S. Patel, Michel P. de Jong & Ron Jansen

doi:10.1038/nature08570

First paragraph | Full Text | PDF (642K) | Supplementary information

Increase in Agulhas leakage due to poleward shift of Southern Hemisphere westerlies p495

The Agulhas leakage allows the transport of warm and salty Indian Ocean waters into the Atlantic Ocean and provides the main source of heat and salt for the surface branch of the Atlantic meridional overturning circulation. The results of a high-resolution ocean general circulation model now show that the transport of Indian Ocean waters into the South Atlantic via the Agulhas leakage has increased during the past decades in response to a change in wind forcing.

A. Biastoch, C. W. Böning, F. U. Schwarzkopf & J. R. E. Lutjeharms

doi:10.1038/nature08519

First paragraph | Full Text | PDF (1,126K) | Supplementary information

See also: Editor's summary

Convective upwelling in the mantle beneath the Gulf of California p499

The Gulf of California is a part of the world's seafloor-spreading system surrounded by enough seismometers to provide sufficiently high horizontal resolution to address the long-standing debate about the relative importance of dynamic and passive upwelling in the shallow mantle beneath spreading centres. Here, Rayleigh-wave tomography is used to image the shear velocity in the upper 200 kilometres or so of the mantle; the results suggest areas of dynamic upwelling.

Yun Wang, Donald W. Forsyth & Brian Savage

doi:10.1038/nature08552

First paragraph | Full Text | PDF (354K) | Supplementary information

See also: Editor's summary

Aero-tactile integration in speech perception p502

Auditory perception can be enhanced or interfered with by visual information from a speaker's face, but previous studies looking at whether tactile information influences speech perception have been limited. Here, by applying inaudible air puffs on participants' skin and thereby mimicking the tiny bursts of aspiration produced by certain speech sounds, it is found that syllables are more likely to be heard as aspirated, demonstrating that tactile information is also integrated in auditory perception.

Bryan Gick & Donald Derrick

doi:10.1038/nature08572

First paragraph | Full Text | PDF (240K) | Supplementary information

See also: Editor's summary

Central control of fever and female body temperature by RANKL/RANK p505

Receptor-activator of NF- kappa B ligand (RANKL) and its receptor RANK are known to be essential regulators of bone remodelling, lymph node organogenesis and formation of a lactating mammary gland, but the functional relevance of their expression in the brain has been unclear. RANKL and RANK are now reported to have an essential role in the brain, with the central injection of RANKL into mice and rats triggering severe fever, and a further potential role in the control of thermoregulation in females.

Reiko Hanada, Andreas Leibbrandt, Toshikatsu Hanada, Shiho Kitaoka, Tomoyuki Furuyashiki, Hiroaki Fujihara, Jean Trichereau, Magdalena Paolino, Fatimunnisa Qadri, Ralph Plehm, Steffen Klaere, Vukoslav Komnenovic, Hiromitsu Mimata, Hironobu Yoshimatsu, Naoyuki Takahashi, Arndt von Haeseler, Michael Bader, Sara Sebnem Kilic, Yoichi Ueta, Christian Pifl, Shuh Narumiya & Josef M. Penninger

doi:10.1038/nature08596

First paragraph | Full Text | PDF (492K) | Supplementary information

See also: Editor's summary

CD8⁺ T lymphocyte mobilization to virus-infected tissue requires CD4⁺ T-cell help p510

CD4⁺ T helper cells provide critical signals for the generation of cytotoxic CD8⁺ T lymphocyte (CTL) responses in vivo as well as promoting protective CD8⁺ memory T-cell development. However, the role of CD4 help in the control of CTL responses at the effector stage is unknown. Here, fully helped effector CTLs are shown to rely on CD4⁺ T cells to provide the necessary cue for entry into infected tissue.

Yusuke Nakanishi, Bao Lu, Craig Gerard & Akiko Iwasaki

doi:10.1038/nature08511

First paragraph | Full Text | PDF (442K) | Supplementary information

Host plant genome overcomes the lack of a bacterial gene for symbiotic nitrogen fixation p514

Homocitrate is an essential component of the enzyme nitrogenase, which is required for nitrogen fixation. However, the NifV gene, which encodes homocitrate synthase, is not present in most rhizobial species that require symbiotic association with legumes to perform efficient nitrogen fixation. The FEN1 gene of a model legume, Lotus japonicus, is now shown to overcome the lack of NifV in rhizobia for symbiotic nitrogen fixation.

Tsuneo Hakoyama, Kaori Niimi, Hirokazu Watanabe, Ryohei Tabata, Junichi Matsubara, Shusei Sato, Yasukazu Nakamura, Satoshi Tabata, Li Jichun, Tsuyoshi Matsumoto, Kazuyuki Tatsumi, Mika Nomura, Shigeyuki Tajima, Masumi Ishizaka, Koji Yano, Haruko Imaizumi-Anraku, Masayoshi Kawaguchi, Hiroshi Kouchi & Norio Suganuma

doi:10.1038/nature08594

First paragraph | Full Text | PDF (667K) | Supplementary information

See also: Editor's summary

An ancient light-harvesting protein is critical for the regulation of algal photosynthesis p518

Although light is needed for photosynthesis, it can also cause severe oxidative damage. For this reason, protective mechanisms involving feedback-regulated de-excitation of chlorophyll molecules in photosystem II (qE) have evolved. In contrast to flowering plants, little is known about the qE mechanism of eukaryotic algae. Here, a qE-deficient mutant green alga is shown to lack two of the three genes encoding LHCSR, an ancient member of the light-harvesting complex superfamily.

Graham Peers, Thuy B. Truong, Elisabeth Ostendorf, Andreas Busch, Dafna Elrad, Arthur R. Grossman, Michael Hippler & Krishna K. Niyogi

doi:10.1038/nature08587

First paragraph | Full Text | PDF (393K) | Supplementary information

See also: Editor's summary

Innate immune and chemically triggered oxidative stress modifies translational fidelity p522

Accurate transfer RNA (tRNA) aminoacylation is necessary for translational fidelity; however, the accuracy of tRNA aminoacylation in vivo is uncertain. In mammalian cells, approximately 1% of methionine residues used in protein synthesis are now shown to be aminoacylated to non-methionyl-tRNAs. Furthermore, misacylation of methionine increases up to tenfold upon exposing cells to viruses, toll-like receptor ligands or oxidative stress.

Nir Netzer, Jeffrey M. Goodenbour, Alexandre David, Kimberly A. Dittmar, Richard B. Jones, Jeffrey R. Schneider, David Boone, Eva M. Eves, Marsha R. Rosner, James S. Gibbs, Alan Embry, Brian Dolan, Suman Das, Heather D. Hickman, Peter Berglund, Jack R. Bennink, Jonathan W. Yewdell & Tao Pan

doi:10.1038/nature08576

First paragraph | Full Text | PDF (1,344K) | Supplementary information

See also: Editor's summary

Naturejobs

Careers Q&A

Richard Olds p529

Next February, Richard Olds will begin his tenure as dean of the planned new medical school at the University of California, Riverside. The school is due to open in 2012.

Virginia Gewin

doi:10.1038/nj7272-529a

Postdoc journal

Sharing ideas and data p529

It's a win-win situation.

Bryan Venters

doi:10.1038/nj7272-529b

In Brief

NIH asked to probe ethics p529

Health-care and policy executives seek probe into commercial bias.

doi:10.1038/nj7272-529c

Disease threat assessed p529

Field-research posts created as part of a global initiative to combat wildlife-borne diseases.

doi:10.1038/nj7272-529d

Asia takes clean-tech lead p529

US needs aggressive legislation and a three-fold increase in R&D to advance clean technology industry.

doi:10.1038/nj7272-529e

Careers and Recruitment

Start up and succeed p530

Scientists looking to capitalize on their latest discovery might consider starting a company. But that's more complex than it may seem, as Karen Kaplan reports.

Karen Kaplan

doi:10.1038/nj7272-530a

Full Text | PDF (1,093K)