In this issue - pv

doi:10.1038/nchembio1208-v

Full Text - In this issue | PDF (182 KB) - In this issue

Decoding decisions - p715

doi:10.1038/nchembio1208-715

How do we select papers for publication in Nature Chemical Biology?

Full Text - Decoding decisions | PDF (122 KB) - Decoding decisions

Updating the bioconjugation catalog - p717

Matthew B Francis reviews Bioconjugate Techniques, 2nd edition by Greg T Hermanson

doi:10.1038/nchembio1208-717

Full Text - Updating the bioconjugation catalog | PDF (110 KB) - Updating the bioconjugation catalog

Acting together, bacterial clusters initiate coagulation - pp718 - 719

Jeffrey T. Borenstein

doi:10.1038/nchembio1208-718

Bacterial infections have long been associated with coagulation, but the mechanism is not well understood. New insights into bacterial spatial localization are shedding light on how bacterial clusters can trigger coagulation in a process known as 'quorum acting'.

Full Text - Acting together, bacterial clusters initiate coagulation | PDF (573 KB) - Acting together, bacterial clusters initiate coagulation

See also: Article by Kastrup et al.

Cyclization in concert - pp719 - 721

Marco W Fraaije & Andrea Mattevi

doi:10.1038/nchembio1208-719

The berberine bridge enzyme catalyzes the crucial step in the biosynthesis of an important class of alkaloids through a reaction that cannot be carried out using conventional organic chemistry tools. Characterization of the enzyme demonstrates a concerted mechanism that couples two distinct chemical steps—oxidation and proton abstraction—affecting two separate groups of the substrate.

Full Text - Cyclization in concert | PDF (712 KB) - Cyclization in concert

See also: Brief Communication by Winkler et al.

Seeing cellular sialidase transform sugars - pp721 - 722

Minoru Fukuda & Xingfeng Bao

doi:10.1038/nchembio1208-721

Cell-surface carbohydrates are synthesized in a step-wise fashion, yielding products with unique capping structures. A recent study has shown that carbohydrates at the cell surface can be further remodeled by an endogenous glycosidase to alter the carbohydrate structure, thus generating a new function.

Full Text - Seeing cellular sialidase transform sugars | PDF (575 KB) - Seeing cellular sialidase transform sugars

See also: Article by Gadhoum & Sackstein

Bcl-2 turns deadly - pp722 - 723

Bing Qi & J Marie Hardwick

doi:10.1038/nchembio1208-722

Small-molecule inhibitors of anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 proteins and BH3 mimetic peptides are promising anticancer agents. A recent study identifies a Nur77-based peptide that converts anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 proteins into pro-apoptotic molecules, providing another potential cancer therapeutic strategy.

Full Text - Bcl-2 turns deadly | PDF (447 KB) - Bcl-2 turns deadly

Short-circuiting RNA splicing - pp723 - 724

Matthew D Disney

doi:10.1038/nchembio1208-723

Isoginkgetin has been identified as a general inhibitor of pre-mRNA splicing using an in vivo screening assay. This and related inhibitors will not only be useful as tools to decipher the roles of the individual components of the spliceosome but may also serve as therapeutics.

Full Text - Short-circuiting RNA splicing | PDF (628 KB) - Short-circuiting RNA splicing

DNA revisited - pp725 - 726

David M J Lilley

doi:10.1038/nchembio1208-725

X-ray scattering from clusters of gold atoms provides a sensitive way of measuring long-range distance information in macromolecules and now reveals a surprisingly soft, stretchy character to double-stranded DNA.

Full Text - DNA revisited | PDF (340 KB) - DNA revisited

Research highlights - p727

doi:10.1038/nchembio1208-727

Full Text - Research highlights | PDF (106 KB) - Research highlights