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News & Views |
Blueprints for ATP machinery will aid tuberculosis drug design
Structural insights into how anti-tuberculosis drugs interact with the enzyme that makes ATP in bacteria and humans pave the way for improved drug design to treat the disease and combat antimicrobial resistance.
- Gregory M. Cook
- & Matthew B. McNeil
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Research Briefing |
Eating habits of Denisovans on the Tibetan Plateau revealed
The discovery of a rib fragment from Baishiya Karst Cave greatly extends the presence of Denisovan hominins on the Tibetan Plateau. In-depth analyses of fossilized animal bones from the same site show that Denisovans made full use of the available animal resources.
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News & Views |
Fossils found far from the Equator point to globetrotting tetrapods
Ancient specimens of a previously undescribed species of four-limbed vertebrate fill a gap in the fossil record. The evidence offers surprises about where, when and how these ancestral relatives of humans evolved.
- Christian A. Sidor
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News & Views |
Opioid crisis: compound opens up potential strategy to tackle overdoses
A compound has been discovered that increases the potency and duration of action of naloxone, a drug used to reverse the effects of opioid overdoses — possibly opening up another way to save lives.
- Catherine M. Cahill
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Technology Feature |
Inside the maths that drives AI
Loss functions measure algorithmic errors in artificial-intelligence models, but there’s more than one way to do that. Here’s why the right function is so important.
- Michael Brooks
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News |
How Denisovans thrived on top of the world: mysterious ancient humans’ survival secrets revealed
The cave-dwelling group hunted animals such as hyenas and hares to sustain themselves in harsh environments.
- Ewen Callaway
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News |
Lab-grown embryo models: UK unveils first ever rules to guide research
Countries are grappling with how to regulate research that uses stem-cell-based embryo models. They will be watching the United Kingdom’s voluntary approach.
- Smriti Mallapaty
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News |
Ultra-detailed brain map shows neurons that encode words’ meaning
For the first time, scientists identify individual brain cells linked to the linguistic essence of a word.
- Sara Reardon
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Nature Podcast |
These frog 'saunas’ could help endangered species fight off a deadly fungus
How a hot resting spot can help frogs survive chytridiomycosis infection, and the decades-long hunt for dark matter in black holes.
- Nick Petrić Howe
- & Benjamin Thompson
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Article |
A µ-opioid receptor modulator that works cooperatively with naloxone
A newly discovered negative allosteric modulator of the µ-opioid receptor works together with naloxone to potently block opioid agonist signalling with reduced adverse effects.
- Evan S. O’Brien
- , Vipin Ashok Rangari
- & Brian K. Kobilka
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Article
| Open AccessSpike deep mutational scanning helps predict success of SARS-CoV-2 clades
Pseudovirus-based SARS-CoV-2 spike deep mutational scanning is used to measure how mutations across the spikes affect ACE2 binding, cell entry or escape from human sera, producing data that could enable better prediction of viral evolution.
- Bernadeta Dadonaite
- , Jack Brown
- & Jesse D. Bloom
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Article
| Open AccessThe cortical amygdala consolidates a socially transmitted long-term memory
Experiments in mice show that brain circuitry centred on the posteromedial nucleus of the cortical amygdala has a key role in consolidating socially transmitted long-term memories.
- Zhihui Liu
- , Wenfei Sun
- & Thomas C. Südhof
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Article
| Open AccessGeographical migration and fitness dynamics of Streptococcus pneumoniae
Mathematical modelling of 15 years of data from South Africa reveals the spread and vaccine-driven changes in fitness and antimicrobial resistance of Streptococcus pneumoniae.
- Sophie Belman
- , Noémie Lefrancq
- & Henrik Salje
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Article |
Molecular definition of the endogenous Toll-like receptor signalling pathways
Myddosomes, in which MyD88 forms barrel-like scaffold structures for effector protein recruitment and activation, contain proteins that act at all stages and regulate all effector responses of the TLR signalling pathways.
- Daniel Fisch
- , Tian Zhang
- & Jonathan C. Kagan
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Article |
Targeting pericentric non-consecutive motifs for heterochromatin initiation
Zinc-finger proteins ZNF512 and ZNF512B are shown to target pericentric DNA through a conserved mechanism that depends on their atypical long linkers, providing insight into how constitutive heterochromatin formation is initiated across various species.
- Runze Ma
- , Yan Zhang
- & Bing Zhu
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Article
| Open AccessNarrative cave art in Indonesia by 51,200 years ago
A cave art scene at Leang Karampuang, Indonesia, dated to at least 51,200 years ago using laser-ablation uranium-series imaging, depicts human-like figures interacting with a pig.
- Adhi Agus Oktaviana
- , Renaud Joannes-Boyau
- & Maxime Aubert
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Article |
Inhibition of M. tuberculosis and human ATP synthase by BDQ and TBAJ-587
Cryogenic electron microscopy structures of Mycobacterium tuberculosis ATP synthase and human ATP synthase bound to the anti-tuberculosis drug bedaquiline or its analogue TBAJ-587 shed light on drug binding and could lead to new treatments for tuberculosis.
- Yuying Zhang
- , Yuezheng Lai
- & Hongri Gong
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Article
| Open AccessSemantic encoding during language comprehension at single-cell resolution
By tracking the activity of individual neurons using microarrays and Neuropixels probes, a study examines the representation of linguistic meaning, at the single-cell level, during natural speech processing in humans.
- Mohsen Jamali
- , Benjamin Grannan
- & Ziv M. Williams
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Article
| Open AccessNBS1 lactylation is required for efficient DNA repair and chemotherapy resistance
Lactylation of NBS1 by TIP60 promotes homologous recombination-driven DNA repair and resistance to chemotherapy in cancer cells and links altered cancer cell metabolism to increase genome stability.
- Hengxing Chen
- , Yun Li
- & Changhua Zhang
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Article
| Open AccessAdenosine signalling to astrocytes coordinates brain metabolism and function
This study explores how adenosine A2B receptors can act as astrocytic sensors of brain metabolic activity and how cAMP signalling in astrocytes may support core brain functions such as sleep and memory.
- Shefeeq M. Theparambil
- , Olga Kopach
- & Alexander V. Gourine
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Article |
An anti-CRISPR that pulls apart a CRISPR–Cas complex
AcrIF25 inhibits the type I-F CRISPR–Cas system by disassembling its ribonucleoprotein effector complex without an external energy source.
- Chantel N. Trost
- , Jing Yang
- & Alan R. Davidson
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Article
| Open AccessKinetic features dictate sensorimotor alignment in the superior colliculus
Motor units in the superior colliculus of mice exhibit poorly defined representation of static visual fields and instead rely largely on kinetic visual features to link visual inputs to behavioural outcomes.
- Ana González-Rueda
- , Kristopher Jensen
- & Marco Tripodi
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Review Article |
Expanding chemistry through in vitro and in vivo biocatalysis
This Review considers developments in enzymes, biosynthetic pathways and cellular engineering that enable their use in catalysis for new chemistry and beyond.
- Elijah N. Kissman
- , Max B. Sosa
- & Michelle C. Y. Chang
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Article |
Giant stem tetrapod was apex predator in Gondwanan late Palaeozoic ice age
A study describes a new giant stem tetrapod, Gaiasia jennyae, from high-palaeolatitude early Permian-aged deposits in Namibia that challenges current hypotheses of early tetrapod evolution.
- Claudia A. Marsicano
- , Jason D. Pardo
- & Helke Mocke
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Correspondence |
Streamlined collaboration can boost CRISPR gene therapies for rare diseases
- Wei He
- , Shuxiong Zeng
- & Chuanliang Xu
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Research Highlight |
Killer immune cells pile on the pressure to slay their foes
Immune-system assassins called killer T cells compress target cells, forming a destructive crater.
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Research Highlight |
Ants amputate their nest-mates’ legs to save lives
The location of an injury determines whether ants bite off or preserve a damaged limb.
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News & Views |
Did the diarist who chronicled the Great Fire of London make up a scientific instrument?
The mention of a ‘scotoscope’ in Samuel Pepys’s diary is a subject of scrutiny, and Americans satiate British oyster lovers, in the weekly dip into Nature’s archive.
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News |
Why cancer risk declines sharply in old age
New research identifies some of the genes that could help to explain why lung cancer incidence rises with age but declines after the age of 75.
- Heidi Ledford
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Comment |
Neuroscientists must not be afraid to study religion
Scientists interested in the brain have tended to avoid studying religion or spirituality for fear of being seen as unscientific. That needs to change.
- Patrick McNamara
- , William Newsome
- & Jordan Grafman
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News |
What drives mosquitoes’ bloodlust? Their hormones
One hormone seems to boosts the insects’ thirst for a blood meal, while another shuts it off.
- Gemma Conroy
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News |
Bionic leg moves like a natural limb — without conscious thought
Computer interface links signals from the brain to an artificial limb, giving the wearer better balance, flexibility and speed.
- Miryam Naddaf
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News |
Combined COVID-flu vaccines are coming: Moderna jab clears major test
First large trial suggests mRNA drug gives better protection from SARS-CoV-2 and influenza viruses than single-target shots.
- Freda Kreier
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Technology Feature |
No CRISPR: oddball ‘jumping gene’ enzyme edits genomes without breaking DNA
A programmable RNA that bridges a genetic donor and a target could herald a safer and more flexible approach to large-scale chromosome changes.
- Heidi Ledford
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Research Highlight |
Smile! Living skin helps robot make a happy face
Anchors inspired by skin ligaments connect cell-based composite to robotic visage.
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Research Highlight |
Deep-sea creatures survive crushing pressures with just the right fats
Tiny predators called comb jellies have cell-membrane lipids that form curving structures under pressure.
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News |
How blockbuster obesity drugs create a full feeling — even before one bite of food
Scientists identify brain area harbouring two groups of neurons: one for pre-meal sensations of fullness, and one for post-meal satiety.
- Mariana Lenharo
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News |
‘Epigenome editor’ silences gene that causes deadly brain disorders
Prion diseases are caused by misfolded proteins, but a new tool can stop them forming in mice.
- Gemma Conroy
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News |
Ketamine for depression: slow-release pills could make treatment more accessible
A ketamine-containing tablet could be a convenient alternative to intravenous treatments, with fewer unpleasant side effects.
- Helena Kudiabor
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Article |
Mechanism for the initiation of spliceosome disassembly
- Matthias K. Vorländer
- , Patricia Rothe
- & Clemens Plaschka
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Research Highlight |
Aged mice regain youthful muscles thanks to a compound that acts on the genes
A molecule increases levels of a protein that maintains telomeres, the caps on the ends of chromosomes.
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News |
These 3D model brains with cells from several people are first of their kind
Chimeric brain ‘organoids’ promise to help reveal individual variation in brain development and in drug responses.
- Asher Mullard
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News & Views |
Flies use blood cells to take a deep breath
Insect respiration is commonly thought to rely solely on direct gas exchange through air-filled tracheal tubes. The discovery of oxygen-transporting blood cells in fly larvae reveals a previously unknown way to oxygenate fly tissues.
- Stefan Luschnig
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News & Views |
Programmable RNA-guided enzymes for next-generation genome editing
RNA-guided recombinase enzymes have been discovered that herald a new chapter for genome editing — enabling the insertion, inversion or deletion of long DNA sequences at user-specified genome positions.
- Connor J. Tou
- & Benjamin P. Kleinstiver
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News & Views |
Chimeric brain organoids capture human genetic diversity
Models of the human brain’s cortex have been made by combining cells from up to five donors. This approach could enable genetic background to be accounted for in studies of brain development and disease.
- Aparna Bhaduri
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News & Views |
Mini saunas save endangered frogs from fungal disease
Amphibian species around the world are threatened with extinction by the deadly fungal disease chytridiomycosis. A simple, low-cost solution to provide warm conditions enables frogs to clear the infection and remain disease free.
- Brian Gratwicke
- & Anna Savage
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Research Briefing |
Spongy but not glassy: Ediacaran fossil provides insight into early animal evolution
Sea sponges were among the first animals to evolve. But, perplexingly, they left few early fossils despite having dense yet porous bodies. The Ediacaran fossil Helicolocellus cantori is interpreted as having been a glass sponge without biomineralized spicules (little spikes made of glass) to support its body.
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Article
| Open AccessStructural mechanism of bridge RNA-guided recombination
Using cryo-electron microscopy, the structural mechanism by which non-coding bridge RNA confers target and donor DNA specificity to IS110 recombinases for programmable DNA recombination is explored.
- Masahiro Hiraizumi
- , Nicholas T. Perry
- & Hiroshi Nishimasu
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Article
| Open AccessTransposase-assisted target-site integration for efficient plant genome engineering
Fusion of rice Pong transposase to the Cas9 or Cas12a programmable nucleases provides sequence-specific targeted insertion of enhancer elements, an open reading frame and gene expression cassette into the genome of the model plant Arabidopsis and crop soybean.
- Peng Liu
- , Kaushik Panda
- & R. Keith Slotkin
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