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Volume 55 Issue 1, January 2023

Single-cell spatial modeling

SPICEMIX is a computational tool that determines cell identities by analyzing intrinsic and spatial factors, enabling the identification of spatially variable metagenes and refined cell subtypes. This image shows a mixture of dried spices on a black slate, illustrating the heterogeneous cell populations in mammalian tissues.

See Chidester et al.

Image: Science Photo Library/ Science Photo Library/Getty. Cover Design: Tulsi Voralia.

Research Highlights

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News & Views

  • 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5hmC) accumulates in transcribed gene regions (called ‘gene bodies’) and near enhancers, but its biological role has remained mysterious. A new study demonstrates that 5hmC serves to counteract inappropriate, spurious intragenic transcription in airway smooth muscle cells and by doing so, this DNA base functions in the prevention of chronic inflammation in the lung and an asthma-like phenotype.

    • Gerd P. Pfeifer
    News & Views
  • A major challenge in human genetics is the prioritization of causal genes in common complex diseases. A genome-wide CRISPR screen for intracellular insulin content in a human β-cell line has now identified a new candidate gene for type 2 diabetes, demonstrating the utility of this screening approach in β-cells.

    • Bridget K. Wagner
    News & Views
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Research Briefings

  • It is well known that dietary composition affects lifespan, but whether the effects of diet are mediated through interactions with genetics is unknown. By careful tracking of genome-wide allele frequency in Drosophila, we identify hundreds of loci that affect longevity only in the context of a high-sugar diet.

    Research Briefing
  • The cell types of the lung enable gas exchange and protect against infection. Our spatial atlas of the human lung and airways revealed 11 new cell types and mapped their anatomical locations. In particular, we defined the gland-associated immune niche (GAIN), which is involved in fighting respiratory infections.

    Research Briefing
  • We profiled human DNA methylation for 987 GTEx samples across nine tissues and characterized how genetic regulation of the methylome, compared with the transcriptome, contributes to GWAS phenotypes. This resource contributes to our understanding of molecular regulatory mechanisms in human tissues and their effects on complex traits.

    Research Briefing
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