Research articles

Chip-based microresonator frequency combs are currently limited to the infrared spectral region. Here, the authors generate combs whose center frequency approaches the visible spectrum enabled by combining geometrical and mode-hybridization dispersion control in silica microresonators.

Serial X-ray crystallography (SX) is used for data collection at X-ray Free Electron Lasers. Here the authors show that a polychromatic “pink” synchrotron X-ray beam can be used for SX, which is useful when crystal supply is limited and will allow time-resolved measurements at synchrotron sources in the future.

A reproductive barrier between japonica and indica rice subspecies hinders hybrid breeding. Here, the authors reveal that structural and copy number variations of a pollen-essential gene, which encodes a DUF1618-domain protein, result in allelic suppression and subsequently cause hybrid male sterility.

Haplotype information is important in investigating many biological phenomena. Here, Porubsky et al. combine Strand-seq with long-read or linked-read sequencing to obtain complete and genome-wide haplotypes of a single individual genome at manageable costs.

Autoimmune anaemia often accompanies Plasmodium infection and malaria, but how anaemia is induced is still unclear. Here the authors show that Plasmodium DNA, together with interferon-γ, can activate B cells to induce auto-antibodies that recognize red blood cells and promote their removal to contribute to anaemia onset.

Growth retardation is most commonly caused by genetic defects in the growth hormone pathway. Here, in families with growth retardation and gingival fibromatosis, the authors identify mutations in the potassium channel gene KCNQ1 that cause electrophysiological aberrations and altered ACTH secretion in vitro.

Our understanding of open quantum many-body systems is limited because it is difficult to perform a theoretical treatment of both quantum and dissipative effects in large systems. Here the authors present a tensor network method that can find the steady state of 2D driven-dissipative many-body models.

Though people are easily able to recall items in a category without mentioning a wrong exemplar, the mechanism underlying this ability is unknown. Here, authors use intracranial recordings to show that this ability is likely due to a selective increase in baseline neuronal activity in category-specific regions.

Genome-wide association studies of kidney function show enrichment of associated genetic variants in regulatory regions. Here, the authors perform epigenome-wide association studies of kidney function and disease, identifying 19 CpG sites significantly associated with these.

In Drosophila embryos, Piwi-interacting RNAs (piRNAs) loaded into the PIWI protein Aubergine target and destabilize maternal mRNAs. Here, the authors provide evidence that piRNAs and Aubergine cooperate with the Wispy poly(A) polymerase to stabilize these mRNAs in the germ plasm.

The bacterial zinc transporter ZntB is important for maintaining zinc homeostasis and is mechanistically not well understood. Here, the authors present the cryo-EM structure of ZntB at 4.2 Å resolution, perform transport assays and propose a model for its Zn²⁺ transport mechanism.

Where does quantum mechanics part ways with classical statistical mechanics? Here the authors derive both within a common framework; the former differs from the latter by an ontic nonseparable random variable and a restriction on the allowed phase space distribution, both of order Planck’s constant.

X-chromosome inactivation is reversed in the mouse inner cell mass (ICM) through a mechanism that is not fully understood. Here, the authors investigate this process and characterize the contributions of the epigenetic landscape and transcription factors in X-linked gene reactivation dynamics.

Escherichia coli Nissle is a probiotic that decreases visceral pain associated with irritable bowel syndrome. Here, the authors show that the microbe produces an analgesic lipopeptide, structurally related to GABA, that can cross the gut epithelial barrier and inhibits visceral hypersensitivity in mice.

The Bam complex promotes the insertion of β-barrel proteins (such as UpaG, a trimeric autotransporter adhesin) into the bacterial outer membrane. Here, Sikdar et al. show that UpaG β-barrel segments fold into a trimeric structure in the periplasm before they interact with the Bam complex.

Phytoplankton blooms are shaped by a period of rapid growth followed by massive cell death. Here the authors show that sterol sulfates accumulate in aging cells of a bloom-forming marine diatom and trigger an oxidative burst that leads to a mechanism of apoptosis-like death.

The photonic valley-Hall effect can enable the unidirectional propagation of edge states, but often require covers which shield the states from direct measurement. Here, Wu et al. realize photonic valley-Hall effect using designer surface plasmons, enabling the direct observation of topological states.

Stomata open in response to low CO₂ conditions in the light to maximise photosynthesis. Here, Hiyama et al. identify two kinases that promote stomatal opening by inhibiting S-type anion channels downstream of phototropin and HT1 thereby acting as a convergence point for blue light and CO₂ signaling.

Studying interactions between lysosomes and mitochondria in living cells is difficult due to the limitations of existing probes. Here, the authors develop new cell-permeable fluorescent probes to image the dynamics of lysosomes and their physical interactions with mitochondria using super-resolution microscopy.

It is not fully understood how intrusive or unwanted memories are regulated. Here the authors show that hippocampal GABA concentrations, and coupling between the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and hippocampus, predict how well subjects can suppress unwanted memories when presented with a reminder.