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On the basis of the whole-genome sequences of cultivated and wild hops, this study describes the evolution of sex chromosomes, including degeneration and dosage compensation, and identifies a candidate gene for the X–A balance sex-determination system in these species.

This report identifies PICT1 as a new regulator of p53. PICT1 binds the ribosomal protein RPL11 and prevents its release from the nucleolus, precluding RPL11 from inhibiting MDM2 activity. Loss of PICT1 increases p53 abundance and protects from tumorigenesis in mice. PICT1 is also a prognostic marker in human cancers. This p53-dependent protumorigenic function is in contrast with previous reports suggesting a tumor-suppressor role for PICT1.

Antimicrobial resistance to currently available antibiotics requires innovation of antibiotics. Here, the authors identify a critical inhibitory site in an energy-producing enzyme, which can lead to rational design of antibiotics.

Most phasing programmes for sequencing data work well for genomes with low heterozygosity but drop in performance in regions of high heterozygosity. Here, Kajitani et al. develop the assembler Platanus-allee and demonstrate its utility in de novo assemblies of various genomes and the human MHC region.

The Bin/Amphiphysin/Rvs167 (BAR) domain superfamily, which includes FCH-BAR (F-BAR) domain proteins are membrane-sculpting proteins. Here the authors combine a range of techniques and show that the F-BAR domain of growth-arrest specific protein 7 (GAS7) forms two-dimensional sheets on flat membranes and that these oligomeric assemblies of GAS7 are required for the formation of phagocytic cups in macrophages.

During replication, topological stress builds ahead of the polymerase. Current models propose that linear eukaryotic chromosomes are divided into topological domains, and that stress is relieved by the activity of a topoisomerase. Here, it is found that replication stress seems to be present throughout the chromosome, rather than in domains, and that the relief of stress in longer chromosomes is facilitated by the activity of the cohesin/condensin-like Smc5/6 complex as well as by topoisomerase. They propose that the Smc5/6 complex prevent formation of topological tension ahead of the replication fork by promoting fork rotation, leading to the formation of sister chromatin intertwinings behind.

Epithelial cells provide cell-cell adhesion to maintain the integrity of multicellular organisms. Here the authors show that phospholipid phosphatidylinositol (4,5)-bisphosphate is critical for the maintenance of epithelial characteristics.

Knockout of cytoplasmic male-sterility-associated genes using TALENs with mitochondria localization signals rescues male sterility in rice and rapeseed, validating the role of these genes, and provides a method for plant mitochondrial genome editing.

Haruhiko Fujiwara and colleagues report the genome sequences of two swallowtail butterfly species, Papilio xuthus and Papilio polytes, and the identification of a chromosomal inversion underlying the mimetic phenotype in P. polytes females. The inversion interacts with dsx to control mimetic coloration patterns in an allele-specific manner.

Japanese morning glory (Ipomoea nil) has diverse flowering traits. Here, the authors describe the reference genome sequence of I. nil, annotations of genes and transposons, and compare evolution of the I. nilgenome to other Convolvulaceae and Solanales genomes.

The harlequin ladybird beetle, Harmonia axyridis, has remarkable phenotypic diversity, with over 200 colour patterns. Here, Ando et al. show that this patterning is regulated by the transcription factor gene pannier and has diversified by repeated inversions and cis-regulatory modifications of pannier.

Taisei Kikuchi, Mark Viney, Matthew Berriman and colleagues report the genome sequences of six species of nematodes from the Strongyloides clade of nematodes, including human and animal pathogens, facultative parasites and a free-living species. They find that expansions of the astacin and SCP/TAPS gene families are associated with parasitism in these species.

The enzyme inositol polyphosphate phosphatase 4A (INPP4A) removes phosphate groups from phosphatidylinositol-3,4-bisphosphate, a key cellular lipid. Here, a crucial role for INPP4A in maintaining the integrity of the brain is described. Mice that lack this enzyme suffer from neurodegeneration in the striatum of the brain, as well as severe involuntary movements. When present, INPP4A protects neurons from a particular type of cell death.

This study used bacterial cytidine deaminase fused to the DNA binding domains of transcription activator-like effector nucleases to enable targeted base editing in the Arabidopsis thaliana plastid genome, generating T₁ plants with inheritable homoplasmic mutations.

The deacetylase enzyme HDAC8 is identified as a crucial regulator of cohesin in humans, and loss-of-function mutations in the HDAC8 gene are found in patients with Cornelia de Lange syndrome.

A total of 1074 patients with a history of ischemic stroke enrolled in The Recurrent Stroke Prevention Clinical Outcome (RESPECT) Study were assigned to intensive blood pressure (BP) control group (blood pressure < 120/80 mmHg) or standard blood pressure control group (blood pressure < 140/90 mmHg) and were followed up for a mean of 3.9 years. Seventy-eight first recurrent strokes occurred, including 70 ischemic stroke and 8 intracerebral hemorrhage. Intensive treatment did not change annual risk of ischemic stroke (1.74% vs. 1.75%, P = 0.999), but markedly reduced risk of hemorrhagic stroke (0.00% vs. 0.39%, P = 0.005). Beneficial effect of intensive BP control were observed for risk of hemorrhagic stroke in the patients with a history of ischemic stroke.

Ylla, Extavour et al. use genomic data from crickets to investigate the evolution of large genome sizes and DNA methylation events in insects. Their findings indicate that transposable element activity drove genome expansion in hemimetabolous insects, such as crickets and grasshoppers, and that DNA methylation is predominant in conserved genes.

Nakano et al. sequenced the genome of a model species for hexaploid cultivated chrysanthemum, an important cut flower. While they investigated evolution, duplication events, and a novel retrotransposon in this study, they also demonstrated the translational implication of the genome sequence in breeding the economically important plant.

Enomoto et al. show that a transcription factor Bcl11b overrides a default fate of olfactory sensory neurons, class I, to dictate the class II by suppressing a class I-olfactory receptor (OR) enhancer. This study presents a transcriptional binary switch that chooses the OR class, which in turn functionally organizes the olfactory system in mice.