Research articles

Glioblastomas (GBMs) are highly invasive brain tumours, but the underlying mechanisms of GBM invasion are unclear. Here, the authors perform an RNA interference screen and identify AN1-Type Zinc Finger protein 3 (ZFAND3) as a regulator of GBM invasion, and find that it acts through the transcriptional regulation of invasion-related genes.

Torpor is a state of reduced metabolism and body temperature that conserves energy when food is scarce. Here the authors show that estrogen-sensitive neurons in the hypothalamus regulate torpor in mice, maintaining torpor in both sexes but initiating torpor and regulating core temperature differentially across sex.

The transcriptional programs of nuclei in the muscle syncytium were assumed to be homogenous except at the neuromuscular and myotendinous junctions. Here, using single-nucleus transcriptomics, the authors reveal a previously unrecognized diversity and dynamics of myonuclear transcriptional programs.

Predicting segregation energies of alloy systems can be challenging even for a single grain boundary. Here the authors propose a machine-learning framework, which maps the local environments on a distribution of segregation energies, to predict segregation energies of alloy elements in polycrystalline materials.

Heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein A1 (hnRNPA1) shuttles between the nucleus and cytoplasm to regulate gene expression and RNA metabolism and its low complexity (LC) C-terminal domain facilitates liquid–liquid phase separation and amyloid aggregation. Here, the authors present the cryo-EM structure of amyloid fibrils formed by the hnRNPA1 LC domain, which reveals that the hnRNPA1 nuclear localization sequence forms the fibril core, and they discuss how ALS-causing mutations affect fibril stability.

Randomised controlled experiments are the gold standard for scientific inference, but environmental and social scientists often rely on different study designs. Here the authors analyse the use of six common study designs in the fields of biodiversity conservation and social intervention, and quantify the biases in their estimates.

α₁-Antitrypsin (AAT) is a 52 kDa serum glycoprotein, the misfolding and polymerisation of which is associated with COPD and liver disease. Here the authors demonstrate the use of high-resolution multidimensional solution-state NMR spectroscopy to characterise the structure and dynamics in solution of Z AAT purified directly from clinical patients.

Current inequality and market consumption modelling appears to be subjective. Here the authors combined all three axes of poverty modelling - Engel-Krishnakumar’s microeconomics, Aoki-Chattopadhyay’s mathematical precept and found that multivariate construction is a key component of economic data analysis, implying all modes of income and expenditure need to be considered to arrive at a proper weighted prediction of poverty.

Ferroptosis is an iron-dependent mechanism of cell death. In this mouse study, the authors show that diets high in iron or depletion of the antioxidant Gpx4 potentiates pancreatic damage and tumour formation by activating the DNA damage pathway and recruiting macrophages to the pancreas.

Selectivity in carbene insertion reactions promoted by Ru(II)porphyrinates is achieved only upon careful control of substrate stoichiometry. Here, the authors demonstrate that endotopic catalysis and formation of mechanical bonds enables carbene insertions to occur selectively and in quantitative yield regardless of substrate stoichiometry.

Despite growing interest in environmental metabolomics, we lack conceptual frameworks for considering how metabolites vary across space and time in ecological systems. Here, the authors apply (species) community assembly concepts to metabolomics data, offering a way forward in understanding the assembly of metabolite assemblages.

Expression patterns of immune checkpoints in patients with gastric cancer remain poorly characterized. Here the authors propose an immune scoring system based on the expression of six immunosuppressive ligands to improve the prognostic accuracy in gastric cancer patients and drive the selection of candidates for adjuvant chemotherapy.

A fundamental function of living systems is regenerating essential components. Here the authors design an artificial cell using a minimal transcription-translation system in microfluidic reactors for sustained regeneration of multiple essential proteins.

Acidothermus cellulolyticus CRISPR-Cas9 (AceCas9) is a Type II-C enzyme that cleaves DNA in a Protospacer Adjacent Motif (PAM) methylation sensitive fashion. Biochemical analysis and crystal structures of AceCas9 in complex with sgRNA and DNA bearing the correct and incorrect PAM offer insight into the structural basis for the recognition of PAM and its methylation.

Topological spin textures are of technological interest due to their potential as a store of information. Here the authors experimentally demonstrate two distinct topological spin textures, tubular and incomplete skyrmions, and their mutual conversion in a ferromagnetic/ferromagnetic heterostructure.

Here, the authors investigate armchair graphene nanoribbons by angle-resolved photoelectron spectroscopy, and show the development of a width-dependent semiconducting gap driven by quantum confinement effects, and an ideal one-dimensional electronic behaviour.

Mannose is present at trace levels in blood and regulates cancer growth. Here the authors show that supraphysiological levels of mannose can also regulate macrophages, limiting their production of IL-1β and increasing resistance of mice to LPS-induced endotoxemia and DSS-induced colitis.

Metal nanoparticle-decorated carbon supports are vital for many applications, ranging from energy storage and catalysis to filtration and environmental remedies. Here, using real-time electron microscopy of a single carbon nanofiber during Joule heating, the authors report atomistic mechanisms responsible for nucleation and stabilization of nanoparticles on amorphous carbon supports.

Power grid frequencies mirror the state of the grid. Here, Rydin Gorjão et al. analyse measurements of power grid frequencies across areas and continents and uncover scaling laws of their fluctuations and spatio-temporal dynamics, which could aid the design, operation and control of power systems.

Ferroelectric domain wall profiles can be modeled by phenomenological Ginzburg-Landau theory, with different candidate models and parameters. Here, the authors solve the problem of model selection by developing a Bayesian inference framework allowing for uncertainty quantification and apply it to atomically resolved images of walls. This analysis can also predict the level of microscope performance needed to detect specific physical phenomena.