In this issue - pv

doi:10.1038/nchembio1107-v

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Plus ça change - p679

doi:10.1038/nchembio1107-679

Although we are updating the formats of our original research papers, publishing top-quality chemical biology research remains our primary aim.

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Making the step from chemistry to biology and back - pp681 - 684

David S Goodsell

doi:10.1038/nchembio1107-681

There is a gap between the nanoscale level of molecular structure and the micron-sized level of cellular ultrastructure that is difficult to probe experimentally. New techniques and simulated images are revealing its secrets.

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Jean-Marie Lehn - p685

Catherine Goodman

doi:10.1038/nchembio1107-685

By questioning the very nature of how ion channels, brains and societies form and function, Nobel laureate Jean-Marie Lehn has changed our understanding of the chemical basis of self-organization.

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Nitrated cyclic GMP as a new cellular signal - pp687 - 688

Martin Feelisch

doi:10.1038/nchembio1107-687

Nitric oxide–mediated production of cyclic guanosine 3',5'-monophosphate (cGMP) is a crucial signal transduction pathway that controls a wide array of biological functions. A new layer of complexity in mammalian cell regulation is revealed by the discovery of a redox-active nitrated cGMP derivative with the ability to post-translationally modify protein thiol residues by S-guanylation.

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See also: Article by Sawa et al.

Phosphorothioation of DNA in bacteria - pp689 - 690

Fritz Eckstein

doi:10.1038/nchembio1107-689

A phosphorothioate modification of DNA has been identified in bacteria. This first observed alteration of the DNA phosphate backbone opens many questions about the mechanism of sulfur incorporation and the function of this modification.

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See also: Brief Communication by Wang et al.

Digging for answers, smelling a hint of success and tasting triumph - pp690 - 691

Joseph P Noel

doi:10.1038/nchembio1107-690

The C₁₂ 'earthy' odorant geosmin is derived from the C₁₅ metabolite farnesyl diphosphate. Metabolic transformation now seems to be catalyzed by a bifunctional protein having two operatively independent sesquiterpene synthase domains. The domains are catalytically linked through the passive diffusion of a C₁₅ alcohol product of the N-terminal catalytic domain to the C-terminal catalytic domain for the final steps of geosmin formation.

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See also: Letter by Jiang et al.

A more discerning zinc exporter - pp692 - 693

Nigel J Robinson

doi:10.1038/nchembio1107-692

An emerging view is that high-fidelity metal selection by the proteins involved in metal homeostasis is pivotal to ensure that the correct metals bind to nascent metalloproteins. A new study demonstrates that the AztA zinc exporter performs this function by using tandem metal-binding domains to entrap some of the wrong metals in nonproductive complexes.

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Sensing cellular magnesium with RNA - pp693 - 694

Victoria J DeRose

doi:10.1038/nchembio1107-693

A recently characterized 'M-box' genetic switch from bacteria is proposed to directly sense cellular Mg²⁺ levels through the conformation of its newly synthesized RNA. This Mg²⁺-sensing riboswitch controls transcription termination in front of a Mg²⁺ transporter gene, thus introducing a new and direct level of genetic regulation to metal ion homeostasis.

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Research Highlights - p695

doi:10.1038/nchembio1107-695

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