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Desmoplastic Small Round Cell Tumor (DSRCT) is an aggressive malignancy characterized by EWS-WT1 fusion oncoproteins with limited mechanistic understanding. Here, the authors identify EWS-WT1-dependent gene regulation networks and target genes, as well as the activities of two EWS-WT1 isoforms with distinct DNA binding profiles, both of which are indispensable for DSRCT formation.

This study examines the tempo and drivers of penguin diversification by combining genomes from all extant and recently extinct penguin lineages, stratigraphic data from fossil penguins and morphological and biogeographic data from all extant and extinct species. Together, these datasets provide new insights into the genetic basis and evolution of adaptations in penguins.

The authors show a reductive interlayer structure that renders semi-transparent solar cells with a favourable combination of high efficiency and improved operational stability. When integrated in greenhouses, plant growth is comparable to that in the traditional glass-roof mode.

By implementing random circuit sampling, experimental and theoretical results establish the existence of transitions to a stable, computationally complex phase that is reachable with current quantum processors.

Ruggeri et al. find in a study of 61 countries that temporal discounting patterns are globally generalizable. Worse financial environments, greater inequality and high inflation are associated with extreme or inconsistent long-term decisions.

Tunable and stable memristors based on single-crystalline entropy-stabilized oxide films grown on epitaxial bottom electrodes can be used to create energy-efficient reservoir computing networks.

The RIG-I like receptors sense RNA viruses and initiate antiviral immunity. Here the authors screen 375 definite ubiquitin ligases and propose UBR5 promotes RLR transcription by disengaging the TRIM28-imposed brake on the RLR promoters.

Meta-analysis of genome-wide association studies on Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias identifies new loci and enables generation of a new genetic risk score associated with the risk of future Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.

Transancestral GWAS meta-analysis in 160,420 individuals identifies 139 loci associated with refractive error, including myopia. Newly identified genes implicate pathways involved in eye growth and light signaling cascades.

A type II supernova (SN 2023ixf) was observed in the galaxy M101 at a distance of 6.85  ±  0.15 Mpc, at about 1.0  h after the explosion.

Using cryo-electron tomography and single-particle cryo-electron microscopy of functional synaptic vesicles, a V-ATPase–synaptophysin interface was found to regulate synaptic vesicle biogenesis and alter seizure susceptibility.

Investigating the inner structure of baryons is important to further our understanding of the strong interaction. Here, the BESIII Collaboration extracts the absolute value of the ratio of the electric to magnetic form factors and its relative phase for e + e − → J/ψ → ΛΣ decays, enhancing the signal thanks to the vacuum polarisation effect at the J/ψ peak.

Here the authors report that the Taf2 and Taf14 subunits of the yeast TFIID complex interact and mediate binding to chromatin. Binding of Taf2 to Taf14 promotes a conformational rearrangement in Taf14, resulting in a release of the linker region for the engagement with the nucleosome and their association with DNA is essential for transcriptional regulation.

It is hoped that simulations of molecules and materials will provide a near-term application of quantum computers. A study of the performance of error mitigation highlights the obstacles to scaling up these calculations to practically useful sizes.

A meta-analysis of genome-wide association study data from 77,418 individuals of East Asian ancestry with type 2 diabetes identifies novel variants associated with increased risk of type 2 diabetes.

The molecular and cellular causes of glaucoma are not well understood. Here, the authors integrate GWAS with genetic regulation and single cell expression from multiple eye tissues to identify genes and key cell types that affect glaucoma pathogenesis.

Detection of the tumour boundary in prostate cancer is required for surgery. Here the authors present a fluorescent molecular rotor probe to target a prostate cancer marker, prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA), which they use in a xenograft mouse model to show it can be used for in vivo imaging.

This report by the Consortium for Refractive Error and Myopia uses gene-environment-wide interaction study (GEWIS) to identify genetic loci that affect environmental influence in myopia development, and identifies ethnic specific genetic loci that attribute to eye refractive errors.

Interrelating metabolites by their fragmentation spectra is central to metabolomics. Here the authors align fragmentation spectra with both statistical significance and allowance for multiple chemical differences using Significant Interrelation of MS/MS Ions via Laplacian Embedding (SIMILE).

Infection studies on highly pathogenic avian influenza virus clade 2.3.4.4b H5N1 on calves and lactating cows indicate that transmission occurs primarily via milk and milking procedures rather than respiratory routes.

Whole-exome sequencing of 250 parent–offspring trios identifies an enrichment of rare damaging de novo mutations in individuals with cerebral palsy and implicates genetically mediated dysregulation of early neuronal connectivity in the etiology of this disorder.

Parenteral BCG vaccination has been shown to drive innate immune memory responses that can affect the response to pathogens other than mycobacteria. Here the authors show an innate immune memory mechanism whereby subcutaneous BCG vaccination alters the intestinal microbiome and in turn can train alveolar macrophages in the lungs.

Microbial production of succinic acid at an industrially relevant scale has been hindered by high downstream processing costs arising from neutral pH fermentation. Here, the authors report an end-to-end pipeline for succinic acid production at low pH using engineered acid-tolerant Issatchenkia orientalis strain.

The influence of X chromosome genetic variation on blood lipids and coronary heart disease (CHD) is not well understood. Here, the authors analyse X chromosome sequencing data across 65,322 multi-ancestry individuals, identifying associations of the Xq23 locus with lipid changes and reduced risk of CHD and diabetes mellitus.

Analysis of mitochondrial genomes (mtDNA) by using whole-genome sequencing data from 2,658 cancer samples across 38 cancer types identifies hypermutated mtDNA cases, frequent somatic nuclear transfer of mtDNA and high variability of mtDNA copy number in many cancers.

SARS-CoV-2 adaptation and evolution led to stronger innate immune suppression by increasing expression of Orf6 in Omicron subvariants.

The semileptonic decay channels of the Λc baryon can give important insights into weak interaction, but decay into a neutron, positron and electron neutrino has not been reported so far, due to difficulties in the final products’ identification. Here, the BESIII Collaboration reports its observation in e+e- collision data, exploiting machine-learning-based identification techniques.

A genome-wide association study identifies 17 genetic loci that are associated with the risk of myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs), and shows that the modulation of haematopoietic stem cell function drives MPN risk.

Whether mucinous ovarian carcinoma (MOC) arises from cells at the ovary or from metastases from other primary sites is an unanswered question. Here, Cheasley et al perform a genetic analysis of the disease, showing that MOC arises at the ovary.

Medulloblastoma is the most common malignant brain tumour in children; having assembled over 1,000 samples the authors report that somatic copy number aberrations are common in medulloblastoma, in particular a tandem duplication of SNCAIP, a gene associated with Parkinson’s disease, which is restricted to subgroup 4α, and translocations of PVT1, which are restricted to Group 3.

Cellular metabolism is altered in many cancer types and the advent of metabolomics has allowed us to understand more about how this is dysregulated. Here, the authors report a method named CARVE to analyse the arterial supply and venous drainage of glioma patients during surgery and identify the metabolites that may be consumed and produced by the cancer.

As solid tumours develop, cancer cells shed energetically expensive tissue-specific functions, enabling uncontrolled growth despite a limited ability to produce ATP.

MYC amplification is an independent prognostic factor for the most aggressive subgroup (Group 3) of pediatric medulloblastoma (G3 MB). Here, the authors highlight the role of the RNA-binding protein, Musashi-1 (MSI1) in G3 MB and identify MSI1-bound targets sharing MYC associated pathways.

Analysis of whole-genome sequencing data across 2,658 tumors spanning 38 cancer types shows that chromothripsis is pervasive, with a frequency of more than 50% in several cancer types, contributing to oncogene amplification, gene inactivation and cancer genome evolution.

A pan-cancer epigenetic and transcriptomic atlas identifies epigenetic drivers associated with cancer transitions.

Microscopic and spectroscopic analyses and imaging of integumentary structures in two anurognathid pterosaurs reveal that their integuments were more like feathers (as seen in maniraptoran dinosaurs) than fur, as was previously supposed.

SLC25A39 and its paralogue SLC25A40 have redundant roles in the import of glutathione into mitochondria of mammalian cells.

In-plane hyperbolic phonon polaritons in α-MoO₃ crystals hold promise for terahertz (THz) and longwave infrared (LWIR) photonic applications, but their coupling with far-field excitations remains challenging. Here, the authors report the fabrication of α-MoO₃ ribbon arrays that can be applied as tunable THz and LWIR filters and polarizers.

The authors report the structure of human oncochannel TRPV6 in complex with the plant derived phytoestrogen genistein. The structure provides insights into genistein binding in the channel pore, and how it acts as blocker and gating modifier, suggesting a mechanism of inhibition that can be explored for the structure-based drug design.

A large-scale metagenomic analysis of plant and mammal environmental DNA reveals complex ecological changes across the circumpolar region over the past 50,000 years, as biota responded to changing climates, culminating in the postglacial extinction of large mammals and emergence of modern ecosystems.

Efficient, large-scale genomic analysis is facilitated on the cloud by a computational tool with error-diagnosing and self-healing capabilities.

Neuberger et al. report the structure of human channel TRPV6 in complex with a cannabinoid inhibitor tetrahydrocannabivarin (THCV) and explore the pathway taken by the drug to reach binding sites in the portals that connect the membrane environment to the central cavity of the ion channel pore.

A ‘hybrid’ open-top light-sheet microscope is described, which can be used for broad multi-scale volumetric imaging of one or more large tissues, cleared with diverse protocols, and conveniently mounted on an array of sample holders.

Chiea Chuen Khor, Tin Aung, Francesca Pasutto, Janey Wiggs and colleagues report a global genome-wide association study of exfoliation syndrome and a fine-mapping analysis of a previously identified disease-associated locus, LOXL1. They identify a rare protective variant in LOXL1 exclusive to the Japanese population and five new common variant susceptibility loci.

Magnetic reconnection is a fundamental energy release mechanism in space and laboratory plasmas. Here, the authors show persistent magnetic null-point reconnection in the solar corona at a scale of about 390 km.