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N-terminal acetylation shapes protein fate during protein biosynthesis at the ribosome. Here the authors show that the NatA enzyme forms dynamic multi-factor complexes at the ribosome, acting as an interaction hub that coordinates cotranslational protein maturation.

Viral ribonucleoprotein–viral protein networks form pre-replication centres that nucleate viral factories and drive respiratory syncytial virus replication.

Self-assembly through molecular recognition events is used in the production of functionalized materials. This study shows that macroscopic gel assembly can be regulated through photoisomerization of an azobenzene moiety that interacts differently with two host molecules.

The distinct architecture of the Escherichia coli membrane transporter LetA mediates lipid trafficking across the bacterial envelope in partnership with the tunnel-like complex LetB.

In a mouse model, environmental immunostimulation in early life led to cross-reactive adaptive immune memory and reduced type II immune responses to allergens, indicating a mechanistic relationship between environmental antigen exposure and subsequent allergy.

Polyamines prevent the action of kinases on acidic phosphorylatable motifs in spliceosomal proteins, thus providing a mechanism for metabolite-mediated regulation of alternative splicing in cells.

The identification of cellular targets for natural products that potently inhibit the growth of cancer cell lines implicates oxysterol-binding proteins in the growth of cancer cells. These natural products, termed ORPphilins, also affect sphingomyelin biosynthesis.

Native top-down proteomics reveals epidermal growth factor receptor–estrogen receptor-alpha (EGFR–ER) signaling crosstalk in breast cancer cells and dissociation of nuclear transport factor 2 (NUTF2) dimers to modulate ER signaling and cell growth.

In situ catalysis of the formation of gelator molecules provides access to metastable gel states with improved mechanical strength compared with uncatalysed gels that have an identical composition. Acid or aniline catalysis enables the formation of hydrogels with tunable gel-strength in a matter of minutes under ambient conditions from simple building blocks.

Sodium-ion batteries face challenges due to electrode degradation and interphase instability. Here, authors develop a smart gel polymer electrolyte for hard carbon||NaNi_1/3Fe_1/3Mn_1/3O₂ batteries via in situ polymerization of specific monomers in conventional electrolytes.

De novo domestication was performed on the brassica Thlaspi arvense (pennycress) by identifying and stacking CRISPR-induced mutations to create a new intermediate oilseed crop that can be grown in the off-season, with seed compositions similar to canola (low erucic acid and reduced glucosinolate).

Patients with myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) have limited therapeutic options. Here the authors show that functionally impaired NK cells contribute to immune escape of pre-malignant clones in early stage MDS and that NK adoptive cell therapy can be considered to prevent or delay the development of MDS.

CRISPR gene targeting in multicellular organisms results in genetic mosaics, limiting knockout efficiency. Here, the authors develop an improved system using Cas12a with multiple guides per gene, and demonstrate high accuracy and superior knockout efficiency in fruit flies.

Light and redox switches are of interest for responsive materials, actuators and robotics. Here the authors integrated a redox- and photoresponsive switch into a polymer hydrogel enabling reversible redox-switching with high spatio-temporal precision.

In vitro models using tissue-specific progenitors recapitulate the lumen with gland-like structures and functional characteristics of the human stomach epithelium in a patient-specific disease model.

The reactivity and ligandability of arginine within the human proteome have been largely unexplored despite it being involved in various biological functions. Now, arginine reactivity and ligandability have been mapped across the proteome, revealing hyper-reactive sites and identifying residues that control liquid–liquid phase separation, protein activity and protein–protein interactions.

Excessive fibrosis triggered by bisphosphonates impairs fracture healing in osteoporotic bone. Here, the authors develop an injectable magnesium-alendronate MOF-based hydrogel adhesive and show it prevents fibrosis and enhances bone repair, improving healing strength in an osteoporotic rat model.

A rationally designed assay detects granzyme A activity by integrating peptide-based GzmA-targeted inhibitors and probes with chemiluminescent reporters to monitor inflammatory bowel disease.

Specific molecular-recognition interactions are often used to build supramolecular architectures on very small length scales — typically those of molecules or macromolecules. Now, it has been shown that a host-guest system based on cyclodextrin rings and hydrocarbon groups can be used to direct the self-assembly of objects from macroscopic gel-based building blocks.

Structural, genetic, functional and biochemical analyses of the complex flagellar motor of Campylobacter jejuni reveal structural adaptations with an ancient origin also found more widely across bacterial species, including elements exapted from the type IV pilus machinery.

An oral inulin allergen gel restores the microbiota of allergic mice and suppresses undesired immune responses to achieve allergen-specific oral tolerance, effectively overcoming food allergy.

This study introduces glassy adhesion dynamics within a motor–clutch framework, revealing the mechanism by which cellular and extracellular timescales interplay and govern anomalous cancer cell migration.

A single-cell epigenomic atlas of human immune cells highlights cell-type-specific features associated with genetic or environmental exposures.

This study finds stem-like endothelial cells in the optic nerve that supply and repair retinal blood vessels after injury, revealing a hierarchical repair system that may enable new treatments for blinding vascular eye diseases.

ANKLE1 senses DNA tension and negative supercoiling, enhancing cleavage of stretched, supercoiled DNA to resolve chromatin bridges, highlighting its unique mechanosensitive role in maintaining genome stability during cell division.

Preparing heterogeneous hydrogels with distinct phases is desirable for the mimicking of biological tissues, but generally requires complex techniques. Here, the authors report a method that uses phase separation to fabricate two-aqueous phase soft materials with distinct properties at different length scales.

The bacterial genotoxin colibactin induces DNA interstrand cross-links which pose a barrier to DNA replication. Here, the authors use Xenopus egg extracts to show that the Fanconi anemia pathway is responsible for repairing these cross-links.

Achieving spatiotemporal gating of signals is desirable for mimicking of biological processes, but is challenging to achieve in synthetic systems. Here, the authors report a multicomponent chemoenzymatic system to realize local inhibition and long-range activation, by exploiting variations in molecular diffusivity.

Importin β, the prototypical eukaryotic nuclear import receptor, transports a wide variety of cargos into the nucleus. Ko et al. used cryogenic electron microscopy to reveal an unexpected allosteric regulation of Importin β’s affinity for FG-nucleoporins, triggered by Ran-GTP.

CLASSIC is a high-throughput genetic profiling platform that combines long- and short-read next-generation-sequencing modalities to quantitatively assess pools of constructs of arbitrary length containing diverse genetic part compositions.

Self-assembly via molecular recognition events is used in the production of functionalized materials. This Article reports that the macroscopic assembly of polyacrylamide gels can be controlled by changing the composition of a mixed solvent system.

Shimotohno et al. demonstrated a BAM1–GHR1–CLE5p/SnRK2 signal transduction module that regulates primary drought responses without stimulating ABA biosynthesis in Arabidopsis.

Optoelectronic synapses are crucial for advanced visual systems but are hindered by limited storage memory. Here, the authors propose organic photoelectrochemical transistor array capable of multi-level memories for neuromorphic visual computing.

Because of its complex pathophysiology, the management of inflammatory bowel disease as well as its fibrotic complication has become a global challenge. Here, the authors show a probiotic inulin hydrogel loaded with polypyrrole (PPy) nanozymes and antifibrotic drug pirfenidone (PFD) (PPy/PFD@Inulin gel) designed for the concurrent amelioration of IBD and its fibrotic complication.

Transcription factor osr2 is identified as a specific marker and regulator of mural lymphatic endothelial cell (muLEC) differentiation and maintenance, and muLECs and border-associated macrophages share functional analogies but are not homologous, providing an example of convergent evolution.

Intelectin-2 defends mucosal interfaces by crosslinking mucus and blocking microbial growth. This study reveals that mouse and human intelectin-2 recognizes galactose-rich glycans to bind and target diverse bacteria—uncovering a potent, dual-action lectin that shapes host–microbe balance.

S protein interacts with and activates PBP1a during cell division, as part of a larger GpsB-associated multiprotein complex that coordinates peptidoglycan remodelling in Streptococcus pneumoniae.

Native state proteomics of PV interneurons revealed unique molecular features of high translational and metabolic activity, and enrichment of Alzheimer’s risk genes. Early amyloid pathology exerted unique effects on mitochondria, mTOR signaling and neurotransmission in PV neurons.

Polymer-based actuators, which deform in response to external stimuli, may advance the understanding of biological movement or realization of soft robotics. Here, Harada et al. report a photo-responsive supramolecular hydrogel that displays expansion–contraction abilities owing to host–guest interactions.