In this Perspective, the author describes the recent progress in understanding solute carrier (SLC) biology and discusses the roles of new families of atypical SLCs.

In this Review, the authors present an overview of our current understanding of the relationship between DNA methylation and three-dimensional chromatin architecture, discussing the extent to which DNA methylation may regulate the folding of the genome.

Pregnancy loss is common in humans, but maternal genetic factors modulating its incidence are largely unknown. In a meta-analysis of genome-wide association studies, researchers identified a genetic variant that seems to increase risk of pregnancy loss by dysregulating meiotic recombination between homologous chromosomes during egg formation.

Over the past 30 years, the field of structural biology and its associated biological insights have seen amazing progress. In this Comment, I recount several milestones in the field and how we can apply lessons from the past toward an exciting future, especially as it relates to drug discovery.

Designed novel protein nanoparticle technology integrates antibody targeting and responds to changes in environmental conditions to release protected molecular cargoes, opening new applications for precision medicine.

The authors elucidate by cryo-EM the mechanism by which DNA polymerases Rev1 and Polζ cooperate in translesion DNA synthesis.

Telomeres are endogenous cellular targets of DNA ADP-ribosylation (DNA-ADPr). TARG1-regulated DNA-ADPr is coupled to lagging telomere DNA strand synthesis, and persistent DNA-ADPr, due to TARG1 deficiency, leads to telomere shortening and fragility.

The authors uncovered an antiparasitic molecule that exhibits broad-spectrum activity against parasitic flukes through engagement of a recently discovered transient receptor potential ion channel.

Using cryo-EM, the authors elucidate the mechanisms of TRPV1 regulation by bioactive lipids, namely phosphoinositides and the inflammatory lipid lysophosphatidic acid.

The antidepressant vortioxetine affects rodent and human 5-HT₃ receptors differently. López-Sánchez et al. use a variety of methods, including structure determination of vortioxetine-bound human and mouse 5-HT₃ receptors, to reveal the basis of these differences.

Since Nature Structural and Molecular Biology was started 30 years ago, our understanding of transcription and mRNA processing has been revolutionized through structural and mechanistic studies. Here, we present our personal views of the advances in understanding the production of mature eukaryotic mRNAs over the past decade.

The first membrane protein structure was reported almost 40 years ago. In this issue, we are publishing a set of papers that serve to underline the incredible advances in our understanding of the biology of these multifaceted molecular machines.

G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) with no known endogenous ligand are termed orphans. Deorphanization of a GPCR involves identifying the ligand, which can be a painstaking exercise. In this Comment, we discuss the challenges in the process, its role in drug discovery and alternative approaches to characterizing orphan GPCRs.

The identification of sodium and potassium currents as underlying action potential propagation, more than 70 years ago, opened a new avenue of research into the role of ion channels. In this Comment, we present our personal perspectives of the field, from the identification of Shaker as a potential potassium channel to the mechanistic insights available to us today.

In addition to the usual dose of compelling science, our March issue features thoughtful reflections on the last 30 years from readers, as well as past and present editors. Perhaps influenced by these pieces or by our stunning cover — or maybe it is just the changing seasons — we are in an introspective mood this month.

Over the past 30 years, Nature Structural & Molecular Biology (NSMB) has covered an enormous breadth of subjects in the broad field of molecular and structural biology. Here, some of the journal’s past and present editors recount their editorial experience at NSMB and some of the more memorable papers they worked on.