Research Highlights in 2020

High-density microelectrode arrays with dual-mode capabilities can ‘image’ electrical activity in neuronal cultures or slice preparations.

RNA timestamps are molecular recorders that enable one to infer the age of an RNA molecule and record transcriptional activity in a temporal manner.

Technological advances push the limits of single-particle cryo-EM to achieve atomic resolution.

X-ray holographic nano-tomography is a promising complement to electron microscopy for connectomics studies.

van der Mers (vdMs), a unit of protein structure, facilitate de novo design of proteins that bind small molecules.

A single-cell approach to metabolomics links metabolic profiles to cellular identity.

Conferring optical sectioning capabilities on light field microscopy improves signal-to-noise ratio while maintaining high imaging speed.

Fluorescent proteins can bind amyloid fibrils formed from natural peptides and proteins.

An integrative modeling framework enables cross-validation of existing E. coli datasets and prediction of uncharacterized parameters.

A machine learning model uses autofluorescence of key metabolites to predict T cell activation state.

Engineered intrinsically disordered proteins can induce phase separation and be used to modulate cellular function.

Addition of a second constriction to CsgG-family nanopores improves the accuracy of homopolymer sequencing.

Stdpopsim facilitates realistic population genetics simulations with a catalog of widely used models.

A protein degradation platform enables the targeted depletion of extracellular and membrane-bound proteins.

Stem-cell-derived organoids reproduce the in vivo secretory and functional properties of the choroid plexus.

BRICseq provides access to brain-wide connectivity and can be combined with functional and transcriptomic studies for a comprehensive view of neuronal circuitry.

Tethering fluorescent proteins to ribosomes clears up background signals when imaging neural circuits.

Intravital three-dimensional bioprinting enables the biofabrication of constructs in a pre-existing 3D matrix, such as inside tissues of live animals.

RIC-seq enables in situ mapping of intra- and intermolecular RNA–RNA interactions.

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