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Electroreduction of CO on copper is notable for enabling C–C coupling, but a fundamental understanding of what drives product selectivity is lacking. Here a series of well-defined copper nanocrystals with tunable shape and size are used to control product selectivity, with strain identified as a major factor in n-propanol formation.

Oxytocin promotes social behaviors, but its cortical targets remain unclear. Here, authors show that oxytocin activates local interneurons in the rat prefrontal cortex, enhancing sociability through top-down control of the basolateral amygdala.

Synthetic super-enhancers enable specific delivery of anticancer payloads, achieving tumour elimination after a single dose in a mouse model of aggressive glioblastoma.

Ribosomal translation is coupled to cotranslational protein folding, process assisted by dedicated chaperones. Here, authors present structures of the ribosome-bound yeast Hsp70 chaperone Ssb, identifying its ribosomal binding site and revealing its interactions with a model nascent chain.

HCN4 channels control cardiac pacing. Here, the authors isolated a nanobody (NB5) that binds HCN4 extracellularly in an ortholog- and isoform-specific manner and promotes its activation in sinoatrial node myocytes, leading to an increase in pacemaker rhythm.

Green hydrogen production via water electrolysis requires a low-cost solution to provide efficient catalysts. Here, the authors report an industrially scalable method for synthesizing NiFe layered double hydroxide at room temperature and atmospheric pressure, enhancing alkaline electrolysis.

Geminin regulates DNA replication by binding CDT1 and preventing MCM helicase loading. Using a reconstituted system and structural modelling, the authors find geminin inhibits via steric clash with MCM, not by blocking the CDT1–MCM interface. Combined with CDK activity, it fully halts licensing.

Hydroxide exchange membrane fuel cells are promising as an energy conversion technology, but require platinum group metal electrocatalysts for their application. A Ni-based hydrogen oxidation reaction catalyst is now shown to exhibit unprecedented electrochemical performance.

Electrocatalytic recycling of waste nitrate to NH₃ under ambient conditions maybe an appealing alternative to the Haber−Bosch process. Here the authors report a tandem catalyst system involving cooperative adsorption of reaction intermediate on different transition metal active sites for nitrate electroreduction with high efficiency.

Reactive carbon capture enables CO₂ conversion into valuable chemicals without the typically separate energy-intensive CO₂ recovery step. In this work, the authors suggest minimizing its performance trade-offs via indirect bicarbonate conversion within a porous solid electrolyte reactor.

LH secretion rhythms are coordinated by neuronal signaling in the hypothalamus. Here, authors show that kisspeptin-activated nNOS–NO signaling inhibits GnRH neurons, establishing a dual activation–inhibition mechanism to generate LH pulses and surges.

In this study, Rödström et al. use cryo-EM to reveal a range of structural features in THIK-1 K⁺ channel and demonstrate how these features define many functional properties of the channel, thus expanding its potential as a drug target.

Cobalt-based catalysts are regarded as a potentially cheaper alternative to platinum and chromium systems for the non-oxidative dehydrogenation of propane, although they often feature lower performance. Now mixed-valence Co^0/IIO_x clusters supported on silicalite-1 are identified as a competitive system for this reaction.

Argonaute proteins degrade specific invader nucleic acids in eukaryotic and prokaryotic innate immunity. Here, Kanevskaya et al. describe a bacterial immune system in which RNA-guided recognition of invader DNA by Argonaute triggers formation of HNH nuclease filaments with collateral activity, protecting the bacterial population from invaders.

Aneuploidy disrupts proteostasis, leading to protein aggregation and accumulation of SQSTM1/p62 in the cytosol. Here, the authors show that cytosolic p62-positive bodies in aneuploid cells are enriched for mitochondrial precursor proteins, which in turn impairs mitochondrial function.

Newly emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants underscore the need for broad-spectrum antiviral solutions. This study shows a macrocyclic peptide inhibitor that locks the SARS-CoV-2 spike trimer into a “closed” conformation by engaging a conserved region, and demonstrates that intranasal administration of the peptide inhibitor protects against Omicron variants.

Using blood-based genome sequence data, non-genetic and genetic factors associated with control of Epstein–Barr virus during persistent infection are reported.

Hydroxide exchange membrane fuel cells are promising devices for energy conversion. Now, a porous nitrogen-doped carbon-supported PtRu catalyst for the hydrogen oxidation reaction is presented, consisting of Pt single atoms and PtRu nanoparticles that work synergistically. The catalyst enables a fuel cell that exceeds the US Department of Energy 2022 performance target.

Langstein-Skora, Schmid, Huth et al. propose that intrinsically disordered region functionality can be driven by the interplay between linear binding motifs and contextual chemical characteristics such as charge and hydrophobicity.

A global network of researchers was formed to investigate the role of human genetics in SARS-CoV-2 infection and COVID-19 severity; this paper reports 13 genome-wide significant loci and potentially actionable mechanisms in response to infection.

Mitochondrial ribosome biogenesis requires the assistance of multiple assembly factors. Here, the authors provide insights into the essential role of the GTPase MTG3 during small subunit biogenesis and a potential coupling to translation initiation.

Single-nucleus epigenomic maps of the adult human brain and spinal cord reveal that adult oligodendroglia retain developmental chromatin patterns, suggesting a molecular memory that may shape repair processes and cancer vulnerability.

How the bones of the skull vault expand to cover the brain is poorly understood. Here, the authors demonstrate that such bones grow through a mechanical feedback mechanism that propagates a wave of differentiation and emergent cell motion.

TDP-43 dysfunction in ALS/FTD causes faulty splicing of the KCNQ2 ion channel, leading to toxic protein buildup, neuron hyperactivity and a potential new biomarker and treatment target using RNA-based therapies.

Expanded FMR1 CGG repeats drive toxic FMRpolyG in premutation disorders. Here, the authors show that IGF2BP3 binds the FMR1 5’UTR to promote non-AUG translation of FMRpolyG and that its loss reduces toxicity.

The variability in clinical outcomes of SARS-CoV-2 infection is partly due to deficiencies in production or response to type I interferons (IFN). Here, the authors describe a FIP200-dependent lysosomal degradation pathway, independent of canonical autophagy and type I IFN, that restricts SARS-CoV-2 replication, offering insights into critical COVID-19 pneumonia mechanisms.

Heat increases heart rate across vertebrates. Here, authors pinpoint a motif in the HCN4 channel that governs heat-driven heart rate acceleration and demonstrate its conserved role in other HCN channels, revealing a conserved mechanism linking temperature to membrane excitability.

Compact RNA structural motifs control many aspects of gene expression, but methods for their identification are lacking. Here the authors present a sequencing-based terbium probing approach to detect complex 3D structural elements, which can be used to pinpoint potential riboregulatory elements.

The oomycete Phytophthora infestans is a damaging crop pathogen. Here, the authors show that a group of P. infestans secreted enzymes play roles in penetration and colonization of host plants by oxidising fragments of the polysaccharide pectin in the plant cell wall.

PU.1^low CD28-expressing microglia may act as suppressive cells in Alzheimer’s disease, mitigating its progression by reducing neuroinflammation and amyloid plaque load, indicating potential immunotherapeutic approaches for treatment.

Combined methylmalonic acidemia (MMA) and hyperhomocysteinemias are inborn errors of vitamin B12 metabolism, and mutations in the transcriptional regulators HCFC1 and RONIN (THAP11) underlie some forms of these disorders. Here the authors generated mouse models of a human syndrome due to mutations in RONIN (THAP11) and HCFC1, and show that this syndrome is both an inborn error of vitamin B12 metabolism and displays some features of ribosomopathy.

Translational frameshifting is a mechanism that expands the coding capabilities of mRNA. Here, structures of 70S ribosome complexes with GTPase elongation factor G (EF-G), a +1-frameshifting-prone mRNA and tRNAs reveal the cooperation between the ribosome and EF-G to induce +1 frameshifting during the translocation step.

PdCO is a switchable optogenetic tool for inhibiting synaptic transmission in neuronal terminals in vivo, as demonstrated in a variety of contexts mainly in the mouse.

Tumour-induced dysregulation of cAMP–PKA–CREB1 signalling in skeletal muscle is shown to be a driver of mitochondrial dysfunction, contributing to cancer cachexia in mice.

Here authors identify GluN2D-containing NMDA receptors on interneurons as a specific target for rapid antidepressant action. Blocking GluN2D restores stress-impaired plasticity and mimics the effects of ketamine with fewer side effects.

A cavity-array microscope is realized using intra-cavity lenses to create a two-dimensional array of over 40 modes, each coupled to a single atom in free-space.

Small cell lung cancer cells form functional synapses with glutamatergic neurons, receiving synaptic transmissions and deriving a proliferative advantage from these interactions.

Group II introns can act as mobile genomic elements and integrate into genomic DNA through reverse splicing. A selective nucleotide modification approach was used to show that the 2′-hydroxyl at the ribozyme 3′ terminus plays a catalytic role as a proton shuttle during reverse splicing.

This genome-wide association study identifies CELL DIVISION CYCLE-ASSOCIATED PROTEIN 7 (CDCA7) as a regulator of DNA methylation in natural Arabidopsis thaliana populations. CDCA7 binds the chromatin remodeller DDM1 and modulates the control of CG methylation.

The initial cellular alterations underlying changes in digit numbers and identities were unknown. Here, Palacio et al. identify two limb bud progenitor populations that are impacted in an opposing manner by changes in BMP antagonism linked to congenital and evolutionary digit variations.

Condensins organize chromosomes to allow proper segregation during mitosis or meiosis. Haering and colleagues show that the two HEAT-repeat subunits of the condensin complex, Ycg1 and Ycs4, bind DNA; this interaction stimulates ATPase activity of the SMC subunits and is required for condensin association with chromosomes.

Hepatitis C virus utilizes flavin adenine dinucleotide as a non-canonical initiating nucleotide for the viral RNA polymerase, resulting in 5′ capping of viral RNA, which provides protection against the host innate immune response.

Two-dimensional self-assembled heterostructures of graphene oxide and polyamine macromolecules are used to create membranes with tuneable permeability for water and ions.

Mitochondrial β-barrel proteins are synthesized in the cytosol before being targeted to the organelle. Here, Jores et al.show that a specialized hydrophobic β-hairpin motif is the previously undefined targeting sequence and is recognized by the mitochondrial outer membrane translocase.

Antisense RNAs boost gene expression by accelerating the export of mRNA from the nucleus to the cytoplasm through the Dbp2-mediated formation of double-stranded RNAs, which might explain the prevalence of antisense RNAs.

Tumor-associated neutrophils exhibit heterogeneity in breast cancer. Here, the authors identify a distinct precursor population (PreNeu) in estrogen receptor-positive tumors. PreNeu suppress homologous recombination in cancer cells, promoting error-prone DNA repair and enhancing sensitivity to PARP inhibitors.

Direct interaction between the small GTPase Rab7a and the cation channel TPC2 has been reported but the functional regulation is less clear. Here, the authors show that Rab7a enhances the activity of TPC2 to promote melanoma progression through the GSK3β/β-Catenin/MITF axis.

A large genome-wide association study of more than 5 million individuals reveals that 12,111 single-nucleotide polymorphisms account for nearly all the heritability of height attributable to common genetic variants.