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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.

Hydrogen sulphide is a signalling molecule with cytoprotective activity in mammals. Here, Kimura and colleagues identify a new biosynthetic pathway for the production of hydrogen sulphide from D-cysteine, which is shown to protect mouse kidneys from oxidative stress after ischaemia/reperfusion injury.

Using more than 100 independent iPSC lines derived from patients with Alzheimer’s disease, the authors discovered loci associated with the neuronal production of amyloid β and confirmed their influence using RNA interference.

Using new phagocytosis reporter mice and 3D ultrastructural characterization, Morizawa et al. show that motor learning induces synaptic engulfment by BG, which contributes to synaptic pruning during the improvement of motor adaptation.

Ito et al. present CoVFit, an AI model that predicts variant fitness (transmissibility) from spike protein sequences alone. They further demonstrate its utility in forecasting viral evolution via single amino acid mutations.

Access to clean water is a fundamental requirement owing the rapid population growth. Here, the authors report bio-inspired polymers mimicking plant phytochelatin and their hyperconfinement in flow-through systems to enable the selective capture of hazardous heavy metal ions from contaminated water to drinkable level.

XBB.1.5 of SARS-CoV-2 is a descendant of XBB.1 and has mutations in spike and ORF8, making it more infectious to humans. Here, the authors examined in detail the differences in virological properties of the two variants.

An analysis of cognitive and brain structural data from over 900 Japanese participants reveals a relationship between increased hair mercury levels and reduced cognitive performance and reductions in gray and white matter volume.

The critical mediators responsible for cancer-associated cachexia development remain poorly defined. Here, the authors identify a distinct subset of neutrophil-like monocytes that facilitates progressive skeletal muscle wasting in cancer pathogenesis.

Noncoding variants in a TTTG microsatellite on 15q26.1 are identified in Japanese patients with childhood and adult-onset thyroid abnormalities. Functional analyses suggest that these variants affect the role of the microsatellite as a potential regulator of thyroid cell growth.

JN.1 lineage is a globally dominant variant of SARS-CoV-2. Here, the authors examine structural insights into the BA.2.86 and JN.1 spike dynamics to help understand the mechanisms underlying SARS-CoV-2 infection and its neutralizing-antibody evasion.

Genomic resources for cartilaginous fishes are scarce. Here, the authors sequence the genome of three sharks and provide insights on the molecular basis of adaptation to underwater lifestyle and the evolutionary origins of vertebrates.

Auxin inactivation plays important roles in plant development. Here the authors show that the main route of IAA inactivation in Arabidopsis is via conjugation by GH3 IAA-amidosynthetases followed by DAO1 dioxygenase-mediated oxidation of the conjugated forms and hydrolysis by ILR1 to release inactive oxIAA.

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is manifested by subtle but significant changes in the brain. Here, Yahata and colleagues devise a novel machine learning algorithm and develop a reliable ASD classifier based on brain functional connectivity, with which they quantitatively measure neuroimaging dimensions between ASD and other mental disorders.

In Arabidopsis cells undergoing mitosis, centromere distribution is shown to be regulated by two steps: scattering in M-phase and stabilization in interphase. This may affect the maintenance of genome integrity rather than gene regulation.

Marmosets are an important model organism in neuroscience but there has only been limited success in training them on behavioral tasks. Here the authors report their ability to train marmosets in various motor tasks and simultaneously image neural dynamics in motor cortex with 2-photon imaging.

Mutations in the EZH2 gene are found in myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) and are often accompanied by mutations in RUNX1. Here, the authors develop a mouse model of MDS and show that EZH2loss enhances the RUNX1-mediated MDS pathology.

In this study, the authors show that layer V projection neurons require the presence of subcortical CX3CR1-positive microglia for survival. IGF1 secretion from these microglia appears to be necessary for this trophic effect. Inhibition of the microglial cell activation abrogates IGF1 secretion and compromises neuronal survival.

Using photosensitive caged-compound for femtosecond crystallography at X-ray free electron lasers would allow the structure determination of reaction intermediates. Here the authors demonstrate the feasibility of this approach with a caged NO-compound and present the initial NO-bound intermediate structure of cytochrome P450 nitric oxide reductase.

Poly (vinylidene fluoride) (PVdF) dissolved in organic solvents containing lithium tetrafluoroborate (LiBF₄) forms stable gels when the solution is cooled to room temperature. This paper describes the effects of LiBF₄ concentrations and gelation solvents on the gelation process and the structural morphology. Gel-melting temperatures (T_m^g) increased with an increase in LiBF₄ concentrations (C), indicating that PVdF gels in the presence of LiBF₄ would have increased thermal stability.

Hikaru Takeuchi et al. report that lead exposure in healthy controls might have an impact on brain activity and brain anatomy, particularly the dopaminergic system.

We investigated the hydration behaviors of PEG and PEGylated dendrimer using X-ray diffraction, infrared spectroscopy, and differential scanning calorimetry analysis in the range of −80 °C to 80 °C. At 20% water content, ice crystals were formed and melted during the heating. At 70% water content, however, PEG crystals were formed and melted. In the mixture of the PEGylated dendrimer with 20% water content, ice formation was suppressed. Comparative analyses are important for the evaluation of such eutectic mixtures of PEG compounds and water.