Research Highlights in 2020

barRNAseq allows detailed explorations of signaling pathways that control embryonic differentiation.

A two-step chemoenzymatic method for N-glycan subtype-selective editing.

Sequencing gradually digested chromatin along the nuclear radius enables the mapping of radial organization of chromatin in human cells.

A fast algorithm detects unexpected contamination events in public databases.

In situ labeling with azido sugars enables in vivo immunomodulation of dendritic cells.

Proteins that control the optical properties of cephalopod skin cells can modulate the transparency of mammalian cells.

Embryonic development is typically hidden from view, but a window preparation technique now sheds light on this phase in the life of a mouse.

CAR⁺ macrophages modulate the tumor milieu and lead to antitumor immune responses.

De novo–designed protein logic gates allow post-translational regulation of protein function.

Improvements to the Genome Taxonomy Database provide a complete bacterial and archaeal taxonomy.

Structure-guided engineering allows researchers access to an expanding number of Cas9 variants that relax the constraint imposed by target site recognition of a protospacer-adjacent motif (PAM).

The assembly of polymers can be genetically targeted to specific neurons or other cells to manipulate their properties.

A new platform allows researchers to study the tumor microenvironment in fully immunocompetent chimeric mice.

Researchers construct a transcriptome-based single-cell human cell landscape for major human organs.

H-MAGMA leverages chromatin interaction data to interpret GWAS results for brain disorders.

A CRISPR–Cas9-based approach generates libraries of mutant proteins targeted to specific subcellular compartments for in situ directed evolution.

Snake venom gland organoids provide a glimpse into the cell biology of the respective organ and serve as a platform for producing snake toxins.

An optogenetic approach allows researchers to probe how mRNA localization affects cellular processes.

Riboregulator-based sensors are designed to differentiate single-nucleotide RNA variants in live cells.

ChromID identifies proteins associated with various chromatin modifications.