Search

Jones et al. examine the generalizability of the valence–dominance model of social judgements of faces in 41 countries across 11 world regions. They find evidence of both generalizability and variation, depending on the analytical method.

In a multicenter research program coordinated by the International Mouse Phenotyping Consortium, Spielmann et al. analyze the cardiac function and structure in ~4,000 monogenic mutant mice and identify 705 mouse genes involved in cardiac function, 75% of which have not been previously linked to cardiac heritable disease in humans. Using the UK Biobank human data, the authors validate the link between cardiovascular disease and some of the newly identified genes to illustrate the resource value and potential of their mutant mouse collection.

Strobilurins are fungal metabolites that inspired the creation of β-methoxyacrylate agricultural fungicides. Here, Nofiani et al. identify the strobilurin biosynthesis gene cluster, encoding a polyketide synthase as well as an FAD-dependent oxygenase for an oxidative rearrangement leading to β-methoxyacrylate formation.

Mupirocin is a polyketide antibiotic produced byPseudomonas fluorescens that is used to control the carriage of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. Here, Thomas and colleagues describe the mechanisms underlying the mode of action and biosynthesis of mupirocin and discuss how this understanding could lead to the development of novel antibiotics.

Tumour dormancy is when cancer sleeps undetected for periods that can last up to decades. The therapeutic potential of inducing or maintaining this dormant period is clear. This Review describes the mechanisms of dormancy and uses genitourinary cancers as models to demonstrate how dormancy principles could be exploited clinically.

The mTORC1 complex has been implicated in tumorigenesis owing partially to its ability to increase protein translation; now, mTORC1 activity in the mouse intestine is shown not to be required for normal homeostasis but to be necessary for the triggering of tumorigenesis by APC mutations, suggesting that it could be a good target for the prevention of colorectal cancer in high-risk patients.

Squeezed states of light have been experimentally demonstrated to improve the performance of the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-wave Observatory (LIGO) in astrophysically relevant frequency regions. This enhanced performance may help to reach the sensitivity required for detecting gravitational waves.

The astronomical event GW170817, detected in gravitational and electromagnetic waves, is used to determine the expansion rate of the Universe, which is consistent with and independent of existing measurements.

cAMP response element–binding protein (CREB) is a key regulator of the nucleus accumbens shell function in animals' responses to emotional stimuli. The present study demonstrates that passive stress in the form of social isolation induces anhedonia and depression-like symptoms that are mediated by CREB activity and neuronal excitability.

A comprehensive HDX analysis of the vitamin D receptor–retinoid X receptor (VDR-RXR) reveals extensive allosteric communication within the same polypeptide where DNA or ligand can induce alterations in distant domains of the receptors. The work also shows communication between subunits in the heterodimer.

The Cancer Genome Atlas consortium reports on their genome-wide characterization of somatic alterations in colorectal cancer; in addition to revealing a remarkably consistent pattern of genomic alteration, with 24 genes being significantly mutated, the study identifies new targets for therapeutic intervention and suggests an important role for MYC-directed transcriptional activation and repression.

Future climate conditions threaten crops in sub-Saharan Africa. It is shown that most major sub-Saharan African crops have wild relatives that occur in regions better suited for future climate conditions, suggesting an opportunity for adaptation that does not require the adoption of new production systems.

A survey of epigenetic associations between serum immunoglobulin E concentrations indicating allergy and methylation at CpG islands in families and a population sample has revealed associations at 36 loci that harbour genes encoding proteins including eosinophil products and phospholipid inflammatory mediators.

A single, low-dose intradermal immunization with lipid-nanoparticle-encapsulated nucleoside-modified mRNA encoding the pre-membrane and envelope glycoproteins of Zika virus protects both mice and rhesus macaques against infection and elicits rapid and long-lasting neutralizing antibody responses.

The International Mouse Phenotyping Consortium reports the generation of new mouse mutant strains for more than 5,000 genes, including 2,850 novel null, 2,987 novel conditional-ready and 4,433 novel reporter alleles.

An analytical framework termed “maturational networks” (matnets) is applied to MRI data from 144 fetuses in utero, characterising emerging functional connectivity in the fetal brain and revealing that human functional connections of high-level associative areas emerge prior to extra-utero environment exposure

Sabeti et al. build on their This paper builds on previous work of detecting selection on human genes, using the many more markers available in the Phase II HapMap project. Three examples of apparent population-specific selection based on geographic area are described, and how these may relate to human biology is discussed.

Direct evidence for the role of BRCA1 in controlling homologous recombination at stalled replication forks has been obtained in mammalian cells using the bacterial Tus/Ter system.

The range of clinical manifestations and autoantibodies that are recognized as important in antiphosphlipid syndrome (APS) is constantly increasing. How can disease manifestations and autoantibodies that fall outside of the classic APS criteria be incorporated into diagnosis in the future?

A policy sequence for low-carbon policy that is politically effective continues to face challenges of environmental and cost effectiveness. This Perspective outlines ways to address these issues within political constraints.

Tahliyah S. Mims et al. investigate the influence of the gut mycobiome abundance and composition on host metabolism. Using mice from four different commercial suppliers they find that the gut mycobiome is shaped by diet, and that abundance and composition correlate with key metabolic features. In particular they find that Thermomyces and Saccharomyces species most strongly associate with weight gain.

Cope, Elsborg et al. analyzed transcriptomic data from mice and astronauts flown to space and identified molecular signatures of DNA damage and repair, mitochondrial dysregulation, and skin barrier disruption. These changes may underpin dermatological issues in astronauts.

Immune biomarkers are increasingly being used to inform clinical interventions. In this Science and Society article, the authors discuss the progress that has been made in identifying and applying immune biomarkers in different disease settings. The authors also consider the major challenges facing the field.

Systematic culture and genome sequencing of thoracic airway commensal bacteria finds many potential influences on lung health and disease. Polyomics of differentiated airway epithelium also suggest pathways that may sustain host-microbial interactions.

In this Technical Report, the authors describe a new technique for the unambiguous lineage tracing of specific Drosophila neuroblasts. This methodology involves the use of lineage-restricted drivers and a modification to GAL4 expression such that it is now permanent and heritable to all descendant cells, directing reporter expression based on neuroblast identity rather than terminal neuronal characteristics.