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The involvement of nuclear pore proteins in cellular mechanosensing and metastasis is unclear. Here the authors identify that nuclear pore protein NUP210 promotes metastasis through the interaction with mechanotransducer LINC complex protein and chromatin to regulate mechanosensitive genes.

The structure of the yeast nuclear pore complex, determined at sub-nanometre precision using an integrative approach that combines a wide range of data, reveals details of its architecture, transport mechanism and evolutionary origins.

X-ray crystal structures are presented of the N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptor, a calcium-permeable ion channel that opens upon binding of glutamate and glycine; glutamate is a key excitatory neurotransmitter and enhanced structural insight of this receptor may aid development of therapeutic small molecules.

Sanshool, the compound responsible for the tingling sensations experienced when consuming Szechuan peppercorns, excites sensory neurons through a unique mechanism, the inhibition of two-pore potassium channels.

The insecticidal protein Mpf2Ba1 shows potent control against corn rootworm. Here, the authors present detailed structural analyses revealing transitions between its three main stages of pore formation. These findings uncover molecular mechanisms of bacterial pore assembly and advance both crop biotechnology and food security.

Claudin family proteins are important for regulating epithelial barrier function. Here the authors show that claudin-23 controls paracellular flux by combining with other claudins to alter tight junction architecture and permeability.

Individual variation in pain sensation makes pain clinical trials quite challenging to interpret. Now, Michael Salter and colleagues report that genetic variation in the P2RX7 gene affects pore formation of the protein and pain sensation in humans.

Insights into regulatory T cell biology are accelerating therapeutic innovation in cancer immunotherapy, autoimmune diseases and transplant rejection.

The pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa uses a membrane complex, PelBC, to produce exopolysaccharides for biofilm formation. Here the authors combine structural analysis, simulations and single-channel recordings of PelBC to provide a detailed view on its unique architecture and dynamics, and reveal the export route for the polysaccharide.

Voltage-gated sodium (Nav) channels are crucial for action potential initiation in excitable cells. Here the authors present the complete structure of prokaryotic NavMs in a fully open state, providing structural insight into the opening and closure of the channel's intracellular gate.

Ordered mesoporous carbons have shown promise in a range of applications, but sustainable methods to achieve their large scale production are lacking. Here, Dai and coworkers produce OMCs via the mechanochemical assembly of non-toxic polyphenol-metal complexes and triblock copolymers, followed by pyrolysis.

Friedhelm Hildebrandt and colleagues identify mutations in NUP93, NUP205 or XPO5 in patients with steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome. They show that NUP93 and XPO5 interact with SMAD4 and that NUP93 mutations interfere with BMP7-SMAD4 signaling in podocytes.

Wei et al. perform spatial transcriptomic profiling on synovial tissue biopsy samples from individuals with recent-onset rheumatoid arthritis, finding TGFβ signaling and fibrogenic fibroblast activation drive a treatment-refractory tissue phenotype.

Coxiella burnetti primarily infects alveolar macrophages and causes an acute form of pneumonia called Q fever. Cunha et al. describe a type IV secretion effector, termed IcaA, expressed by Coxiella burnetiithat inhibits inflammasome activation and therefore may contribute to innate immune evasion by bacteria.

Using cryo-EM structures, single-molecule fluorescence and electrophysiological studies, Kern et al. show how LRRC8A:C volume-regulated channels assemble into heteromers and use pore-bound lipids to block conduction in a closed state.

A Kv1 channel inhibitor and potential therapeutic lead achieves selectivity by binding both the conserved central cavity and newly identified side pockets, which provide the key determinants for channel specificity.

Here, Reedy et al. use a human airway culture model to show that fungal melanin blocks the secretion of pro-inflammatory chemokines resulting in diminished immune responses to Aspergillus fumigatus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

A retrievable, porous and anti-fibrotic macrodevice for the encapsulation of cells provides long-term protection to human cells expressing therapeutic proteins after device implantation in the intraperitoneal space of immunocompetent mice.

Climate change enhances root exudation of organic compounds into soils and can lead to loss of soil carbon. Research now shows that oxalic acid (a common exudate) releases organic compounds from protective mineral associations.

A tool kit to study bacterial efflux pumps and the movement of compounds across the cell envelope was developed enabling investigation of efflux pump physiological functions, substrate specificities and profiling of efflux pump inhibitors.

Nitrous acid cycling contributes significantly to the atmospheric oxidation capacity. Flow tube experiments and field monitoring reveal a night-time nitrous acid sink in soils, and subsequent release during the day.

In macrophages, IL-1β secretion is mediated by N-GSDMD pores in the plasma membrane (PM). Here the authors show that in neutrophils, IL-1β secretion occurs in the absence of PM pores, via autophagosomes; N-GSDMD does not traffic to PM but to azurophilic granules, thereby releasing neutrophil elastase which cleaves further N-GSDMD into alternative fragments.

Understanding the mechanisms underlying the survival of drug tolerant persister cells following chemotherapy remains elusive. Here, multi-omics analysis and experimental approaches show that the germ-cell-specific H3K4 methyltransferase PRDM9 promotes metabolic rewiring in glioblastoma stem cells.

The loss of nerve cells in the brain is the main event causing life-long deficits and neurological problems after stroke. Weilinger et al. show that NMDA receptors cause nerve cell death during stroke in an unexpected way. Although they require ligand binding and recruitment of downstream pannexin channels, NMDA receptors do not use the receptor's ion channel.

The identity of hair cells’ mechanoelectrical transduction (MET) channel-complex components is unknown. Here, the authors used multiple biochemical, genetic, and functional approaches to show that mouse hair cells utilize Piezo1 and Piezo2 isoforms as part of the MET-complex component.

This work presents a unified MS/MS spectral library of drugs and metabolites integrated with standardized pharmacologic metadata, enabling scalable, individualized profiling of drug exposure and metabolism directly from untargeted metabolomics data.

Roles of of viruses in ocean subsurface oxygen maxima are unclear. Here, the authors analyse Bermuda Atlantic Time Series data to show that viruses may drive SOM in stratified oceans by boosting nutrient recycling and phytoplankton productivity linking virus activity to oxygen buildup and a stronger microbial loop.

Voltage-gated sodium channels function as multiprotein signaling complexes. Here, authors show that the dispanin TMEM233 is essential for activity of stinging nettle toxins and that co-expression of TMEM233 modulates the gating properties of Na_V1.7.

Although there has been increasing interest in developing models that mimic the tumour microenvironment (TME), these models often fail to replicate the complex 3D fibre architectures observed in tumours. Here, Ashworth and Cox address this, discuss the current design and fabrication challenges, and outline state-of-the-art biomaterial technologies useful for recreating tissue-specific 3D architectures in vitro.

Targeted lipid nanoparticle supplementation in Acropora spathulata enhances larval swimming, settlement, and juvenile resilience, revealing critical roles of sterols and fatty acids in early life-stage fitness of corals.

Early Neoproterozoic marine productivity fell due to nutrient drawdown following a switch from an iron-rich to a sulfide-rich ocean, according to records of phosphorus geochemistry measured from sedimentary sections in North China.

Clonal hematopoiesis is driven by the selective advantage of mutant hematopoietic stem cells. Here, authors discover that elevated mitochondrial activity is a targetable mechanism by which mutant hematopoietic stem cells gain a selective advantage.

Polymer brushes are often used to functionalise surfaces. Here, the authors report on the creation of high-density, regenerating hyaluronan brushes using hyaluronan synthase enzymes which can be patterned by photo-deactivation and demonstrate biocompatibility and resistance to biofilm formation.

Despite evidence for an ice-rich outer shell, little water ice has been observed on the surface of Ceres. Lobate morphologies observed on Ceres that are increasingly prevalent towards the dwarf planet’s poles are consistent with ice-rich flows.

The major ion chemistry of a North American river shows decreased lateral carbon transport due to exacerbated secondary carbonate formation and CO₂ evasion, according to analyses conducted during a 195-day drought.

During mitosis, complementary actin-based mechanisms ensure equal and random distributions of mitochondria among daughter cells following symmetrical cell division.

Metal–organic framework capture materials could reduce the environmental impact of SO₂ emissions but can have limited stability and poor reversibility. Here, a metal–organic framework with open Cu(ii) sites with fully reversible SO₂ uptake of 17.5 mmol g⁻¹ under ambient conditions is reported.

The origins of the superior catalytic activity of poorly crystallized Ir-based oxide material for the OER in acid is still under debate. Here, authors synthesize porous IrMo oxides to deconvolute the effect of Ir oxidation state from short-range ordering and show the latter to be a key factor.

Chan et al. generate a high-resolution spatiotemporal atlas of healing hearts and reveal cellular networks of lesion repair, including macrophage–fibroblast interactions that control late-stage fibrosis and immune niches that induce cardiomyocyte de-differentiation.

Extracellular matrices are viscoelastic, yet how matrix viscoelasticity regulates the epigenome remains unclear. Here, the authors show that cells cultured on viscoelastic matrices exhibit changes in the nucleoskeleton and in chromatin that enhance cell reprogramming.

Stereotactic needle biopsies are currently performed for diagnosis only in glioblastoma; this study highlights the depth of information available through multi-omics analysis.

New X-ray crystal structure and immunoanalyses of alanyl aminopeptidase N (AnAPN1), a gut antigen of the Anopheles mosquito vector of Plasmodium falciparum, reveal how AnAPN1-specific antibodies block transmission of the malarial parasite.

The authors find that TDP-43 loss of function—the pathology defining the neurodegenerative conditions ALS and FTD—induces novel mRNA polyadenylation events, which have different effects, including an increase in RNA stability, leading to higher protein levels.

P2X receptors are ATP-gated cation channels that are implicated in diverse physiological processes, from synaptic transmission to inflammation to the sensing of taste and pain. The crystal structure of the zebrafish P2X₄ channel is now solved in its closed state, revealing some of the molecular underpinnings of ligand-binding, cation entry and channel gating.

Mammary gland resident macrophages are known to be crucial components of the mammary stem cell niche. Here, the authors show that CXCR4⁺ macrophages form a niche that regulates the tumor-initiating activity of breast cancer cells and induces early immune evasion through the recruitment of regulatory T cells.

Genomic and phenotypic analyses of 272 infant-associated Clostridium perfringens isolates suggest that pfoA is an important toxin gene in C. perfringens linked with preterm infant intestinal diseases.

Gene duplication often leads to paralogs with distinct functions. Here, the authors show that two paralogous proteins NRBP1 and NRBP2 oppositely regulate L1 retrotransposition by modulating L1 mRNA and ORF1p association, with NRBP2 promoting NRBP1 degradation via heterodimerization.

Antarctic supraglacial lakes (SGLs) have been linked to ice-shelf collapse and the subsequent acceleration of inland ice flow, but observations of SGLs remain relatively scarce and their interannual variability is largely unknown. This new study shows that lake area and volume vary substantially from year-to-year around the East Antarctic Ice Sheet and between ice shelves.