Browse Articles

Brucella abortus impairs T lymphocyte responsiveness by mobilizing IL-1RA-secreting omental neutrophils

Palmitoylation-dependent regulation of GPX4 suppresses ferroptosis

Spatiotemporal transcriptome and metabolome landscapes of cotton somatic embryos

Accelerated enzyme engineering by machine-learning guided cell-free expression

Author Correction: The role of manganese in CoMnOx catalysts for selective long-chain hydrocarbon production via Fischer-Tropsch synthesis

Construction and iterative redesign of synXVI a 903 kb synthetic Saccharomyces cerevisiae chromosome

Abstract The Sc2.0 global consortium to design and construct a synthetic genome based on the Saccharomyces cerevisiae genome commenced in 2006, comprising 16 synthetic chromosomes and a new-to-nature tRNA neochromosome. In this paper we describe assembly and debugging of the 902,994-bp synthetic Saccharomyces cerevisiae chromosome synXVI of the Sc2.0 project. Application of the CRISPR D-BUGS protocol identified defective loci, which were modified to improve sporulation and recover wild-type like growth when grown on glycerol as a sole carbon source when grown at 37˚C. LoxPsym sites inserted downstream of dubious open reading frames impacted the 5’ UTR of genes required for optimal growth and were identified as a systematic cause of defective growth. Based on lessons learned from analysis of Sc2.0 defects and synXVI, an in-silico redesign of the synXVI chromosome was performed, which can be used as a blueprint for future synthetic yeast genome designs. The in-silico redesign of synXVI includes reduced PCR tag frequency, modified chunk and megachunk termini, and adjustments to allocation of loxPsym sites and TAA stop codons to dubious ORFs. This redesign provides a roadmap into applications of Sc2.0 strategies in non-yeast organisms.

Photocatalytic upcycling of polylactic acid to alanine by sulfur vacancy-rich cadmium sulfide

Cryo-electron tomography pipeline for plasma membranes

Abstract Cryo-electron tomography (cryoET) provides sub-nanometer protein structure within the dense cellular environment. Existing sample preparation methods are insufficient at accessing the plasma membrane and its associated proteins. Here, we present a correlative cryo-electron tomography pipeline optimally suited to image large ultra-thin areas of isolated basal and apical plasma membranes. The pipeline allows for angstrom-scale structure determination with subtomogram averaging and employs a genetically encodable rapid chemically-induced electron microscopy visible tag for marking specific proteins within the complex cellular environment. The pipeline provides efficient, distributable, low-cost sample preparation and enables targeted structural studies of identified proteins at the plasma membrane of mammalian cells.

Pupylation-based proximity labeling reveals regulatory factors in cellulose biosynthesis in Arabidopsis

A dual role of Cohesin in DNA DSB repair

Abstract Cells undergo tens of thousands of DNA-damaging events each day. Defects in repairing double-stranded breaks (DSBs) can lead to genomic instability, contributing to cancer, genetic disorders, immunological diseases, and developmental defects. Cohesin, a multi-subunit protein complex, plays a crucial role in both chromosome organization and DNA repair by creating architectural loops through chromatin extrusion. However, the mechanisms by which cohesin regulates these distinct processes are not fully understood. In this study, we identify two separate roles for cohesin in DNA repair within mammalian cells. First, cohesin serves as an intrinsic architectural factor that normally prevents interactions between damaged chromatin. Second, cohesin has an architecture-independent role triggered by ATM phosphorylation of SMC1, which enhances the efficiency of repair. Our findings suggest that these two functions work together to reduce the occurrence of translocations and deletions associated with non-homologous end joining, thereby maintaining genomic stability.

Hominin presence in Eurasia by at least 1.95 million years ago

A single residue switch mediates the broad neutralization of Rotaviruses

Metabolic activities are selective modulators for individual segmentation clock processes

Abstract Numerous cellular and molecular processes during embryonic development prompt the fundamental question of how their tempos are coordinated and whether a common global modulator exists. While the segmentation clock tempo scales with the kinetics of gene expression and degradation processes of the core clock gene Hes7 across mammals, the coordination of these processes remains unclear. This study examines whether metabolic activities serve as a global modulator for the segmentation clock, finding them to be selective instead. Several metabolic inhibitions extend the clock period but affect key processes differently: glycolysis inhibition slows Hes7 protein degradation and production delay without altering intron delay, while electron transport chain inhibition extends intron delay without influencing the other processes. Combinations of distinct metabolic inhibitions exhibit synergistic effects. We propose that the scaled kinetics of segmentation clock processes across species may result from combined selective modulators shaped by evolutionary constraints, rather than a single global modulator.

Asymmetric projection of introspection reveals a behavioural and neural mechanism for interindividual social coordination

Zincophilic CuO as electron sponge to facilitate dendrite-free zinc-based flow battery

Engineering triple O-Ti-O vacancy associates for efficient water-activation catalysis

Unveiling pelagic-benthic coupling associated with the biological carbon pump in the Fram Strait (Arctic Ocean)

Abstract Settling aggregates transport organic matter from the ocean surface to the deep sea and seafloor. Though plankton communities impact carbon export, how specific organisms and their interactions affect export efficiency is unknown. Looking at 15 years of eDNA sequences (18S-V4) from settling and sedimented organic matter in the Fram Strait, here we observe that most phylogenetic groups were transferred from pelagic to benthic ecosystems. Chaetoceros socialis, sea-ice diatoms, Radiolaria, and Chaetognatha are critical components of vertical carbon flux to 200 m depth. In contrast, the diatom C. socialis alone is essential for the amount of organic carbon reaching the seafloor. Spatiotemporal changes in community composition show decreasing diatom abundance during warm anomalies, which would reduce the efficiency of a diatom-driven biological carbon pump. Interestingly, several parasites are also tightly associated with carbon flux and show a strong vertical connectivity, suggesting a potential role in sedimentation processes involving their hosts, especially through interactions with resting spores, which could have implications for pelagic-benthic coupling and overall ecosystem functioning.

Sleeve gastrectomy reveals the plasticity of the human gastric epithelium

Room-temperature phosphorescent transparent wood

Allylic C–H oxygenation of unactivated internal olefins by the Cu/azodiformate catalyst system

Abstract Allylic ethers and alcohols are essential structural motifs commonly present in natural products and pharmaceuticals. Direct allylic C–H oxygenation of internal alkenes is one of the most direct methods, bypassing the necessity for an allylic leaving group that is needed in the traditional Tsuji–Trost reaction. Herein, we develop an efficient and practical method for synthesizing (E)-allyl ethers from readily available internal alkenes and alcohols or phenols via selective allylic C–H oxidation. Key advances include the use of a Cu/Azodiformate catalyst system to facilitate remote allylic C–H activation and the achievement of excellent chemoselectivity through a dynamic ligand exchange strategy using a bis(sulfonamide) ligand. This method features a broad substrate scope and functional group tolerance, successfully applied to the synthesis of various challenging medium-sized cyclic ethers (7-10 members) and large-ring lactones (14-20 members), with high regioselectivity and stereoselectivity.