Articles

The spin-orbit coupling present in certain nonmagnetic/ferromagnetic metal bilayers could enable electrical control of pure spin currents in future spintronic devices. Xiao et al. report the signatures of such coupling, even when the two layers are separated by a third copper layer.

Chiral molecules form one-handed supramolecular assemblies but may be induced to switch to the other handed assembly, although the mechanisms driving these processes are unclear. Here, the authors demonstrate control of the supramolecular assembly handedness via the introduction of achiral counter ions.

If the measurement sensitivity reaches the quantum limit during ultra-sensitive measurements, nanomechanical resonators interact with the detectors. Here the authors exploit this back-action to create and tune self-sustained electromechanical oscillations in a SQUID measurement system.

Light-sensitive proteins are useful tools to control protein localization and gene expression, but are currently limited to excitation with red or blue light. Here Crefcoeur et al. present a novel optogenetic system to induce protein–protein interactions with ultraviolet-B light that does not require exogenous chromophores.

The unusual properties of entangled photons endow them with useful properties for imaging and metrology tasks. This work simulates the use of entangled photons for controlling two-exciton states in Blastochloris viridis, showing their advantages for studying excitation pathways in bacterial reaction centres.

Outer hair cell electromotility contributes to the cochlear amplifier during hearing. Here the authors find that targeted-deletion of the gap junction protein connexin 26 results in reduced electromotility of outer hair cells, reduced cochlear amplification and hearing loss in mice.

Internal modifications in mRNA and non-coding RNA are necessary for modulating various intracellular signalling pathways. In this study, the authors report novel modifications resulting from oxidative RNA demethylation, which regulate RNA–protein interactions affecting gene expression.

Single-molecule force spectroscopy provides useful quantitative information about the properties of macromolecules. Otto and colleagues non-invasively inspect the tension dynamics in a taut strand of DNA, thereby extending the use of single-molecule force spectroscopy to the study of macromolecular dynamics.

Guanine-rich DNA can form four-stranded structures called G-quadruplexes, which are thought to influence DNA replication, transcription and repair; their stability and prevalence in the genome is in need of further elucidation. Here the authors employ an antibody-based approach to sensitively map G-quadruplexes in the genome.

Hierarchically porous metal-organic monoliths are potential materials for mass transfer applications. Here, the authors synthesize metal-organic aerogels via the gelation of metal-organic frameworks, and are able to tune their porosity exploiting the properties of both crystalline and aerogel materials.

Voltage-gated potassium channels cycle between closed and open states through poorly-defined transitions. Pless and colleagues incorporate artificial amino acids into Shaker potassium channels and find that that the negative electrostatic surface potential of Phe481, destabilizes the channel open state.

B cells are thought to divide asymmetrically to generate distinct lineages required for adaptive immunity. Hawkins et al. find that surprisingly, mice lacking components of a complex required for asymmetric cell division display normal responses to vaccination and viral infection.

Tumour cells may undergo a dramatic metabolic shift in which glycolysis is favoured despite the presence of oxygen. By solving its crystal structure, Hitosugi et al. reveal how phosphorylation of the enzyme phosphoglycerate mutase 1 regulates glycolytic flux in cancer cells.

Protein S1, a subunit of the Qß phage RNA-directed RNA polymerase, was thought to only initiate copying of the phage RNA plus strand. Here, the authors show that S1 stimulates replication of any cognate template by promoting release of the newly synthesized product strand.

The adaptive significance of predation on conspecifics in non-carnivorous species is unclear. Here Vijendravarma et al. show that predatory cannibalism in Drosophila larvae has hallmarks of a functional behaviour, is genetically variable, and is favoured during experimental evolution under nutritional stress.

Aluminium-activated malate transporters are exclusive to plants, regulating the transport of ions across the membranes on which they are expressed. De Angeli and colleagues show that AtALMT9 acts as a vacuolar chloride channel that is activated by cytosolic malate, and that this regulates stomata aperture.

The high-speed, large-area printing of aligned semiconducting nanowires is vital for practical device applications. Here, the authors use a high-speed printing technique to print semiconducting nanowire arrays onto device substrates with precise nanowire control, and high field-effect mobilities are observed.

Centrosome duplication during cell division is controlled by the polo-like kinase PLK4. Nakamura et al. reveal how stress-activated protein kinase and the tumour suppressor p53 act together to regulate PLK4, and show that their combined loss in cancer cells leads to the appearance of supernumerary centrosomes.

One intriguing question about antimatter that is yet to be directly answered is whether or not it behaves exactly the same as matter under gravity. Here, a direct experimental method is presented to measure the ratio of inertial to gravitational mass for antihydrogen under free-fall conditions.

Only two types of neutral homo-calix compounds, including analogues, have been reported. Chun et al. now describe a new class of positively charged calix[n]imidazolium, which is synthesized in one pot and is able to recognize anions and fullerenes in aqueous media.