Search

The magnetic field effect of ferromagnetic spin electrocatalysts to enhance catalytic activity under external magnetic fields brings promises and challenges. Here, the authors report the ferromagnetic Fe-TiO₂ to investigate magnetic field effect on electrocatalytic reduction of nitrate for ammonia.

Cryo-electron microscopy of neddylated SCF-family ligases interacting with the RBR-type E3 ligase ARIH1 reveals the steps through which E3–E3 super-assemblies ubiquitylate a diverse set of substrates presented on F-box proteins.

Here authors present a distribution of oriented pores and single crystalline array structures in the presence of abundant acid sites in ZSM-5 nanorod arrays grown on monoliths. Enhanced dynamics and improved capacity are exhibited simultaneously in propene capture at low temperature within a short duration.

While photoelectrochemical water splitting produces fuel from solar energy, a large fraction of photoanode photoexcited charge carriers cannot be extracted efficiently at low bias voltages. Here, authors improve the charge transport in P-doped BiVO₄ by mediating polaron hopping and trap states.

Intermetallics are traditionally characterised by their inherent brittleness due to a lack of sufficient slip systems and the absence of strain hardening. Here authors show that a single-phase distorted high entropy B2 intermetallic alloy displays notable strength and plasticity at room temperature, along with stable plastic flow at high homologous temperatures.

Using biochemistry, chemical biology, and cryo-EM, Maiwald et al. elucidate how TRIP12 forms K29 linkages and K29/K48-linked branched ubiquitin chains, revealing a mechanism for polyubiquitylation shared by some HECT E3s.

The chaperone HYPK regulates the human N-terminal acetyltransferase E (NatE) complex, but the mechanism is not fully understood. Here, the authors study the interplay of NatE and HYPK by cryo-EM and biochemical approaches, providing insights into the molecular basis of N-terminal acetylation of human proteins.

DCAF5 has a quality-control function for SWI/SNF complexes and promotes the degradation of incompletely assembled SWI/SNF complexes in the absence of SMARCB1.

Dissection of the nuclear pore complex provides a model in which the HIV capsid enters the nucleus through karyopherin mimicry, a mechanism likely to be conserved across other viruses.

Electrochemical reconstruction impacts the surface structure of electrocatalysts and is challenging to control in CO₂ electroreduction. Here, by regulating a carbonate shell around an oxide catalyst, the reconstruction is guided towards an abundant low-coordinated structure, achieving a C₂₊ Faradaic efficiency of 82.8 ± 2.2% at a current density of 2 A cm⁻².

Vacuum-driven nanofiltration (NF) is a promising and low-cost alternative to pressure driven NF but existing commercial membranes currently not achieve any relevant water flux in such a system. Here, the authors fabricate a silk-based membrane with a crumpled and defect-free rejection layer, showing high flux and salt rejection rate under cross-flow filtration mode.

Chiral interaction of molecular ensembles with confined light fields is elusive. Here, the authors report collective chiroptical effects through coupling of exciton and charge-transfer mixed molecular assemblies with plasmonic nanoparticles.

Despite advances in GPCR structures and peptide design, creating high-affinity ligands remains a challenge. Here the authors develop a computational method, successfully identifying peptide-based molecules for KOR: their platform shows promise for streamlined GPCR ligand discovery.

Transient receptor potential vanilloid channel 3 (TRPV3) responds to temperature and sensitizes upon repeated stimulation with either heat or agonists. Here authors present the cryo-EM structures of apo and sensitized human TRPV3 and describe the structural basis of sensitization.

The conversion of hydrocarbons to produce high-quality diesel fuel can be catalysed by bifunctional materials that contain a metal site and an acid site; it has been assumed that these sites should be as close as possible in order to enhance catalysis, but it is now shown that having them too close together can be detrimental to selectivity.

Sensitive, biocompatible and stable contrast agents for MRI are in demand. Here, the authors combine gadolinium ions with amorphous calcium carbonate to make stable paramagnetic amorphous carbonate nanoclusters with high MRI contrast and significantly improved biocompatibility over commercial gadolinium-based agents.

Characterisation of monoclonal antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 are useful for potential therapeutics or to understand more about the immune response to this virus. Here the authors characterise a monoclonal antibody that has a broad range of reactivity against SARS-CoV-2 variants and measure how it binds to its specific target region of the receptor binding domain.

Using biochemistry, cell biological, X-ray crystallography and cryo-EM methods, Maisonneuve et al. reveal how the scaffolding proteins CNK and HYP enhance the binding of KSR to MEK, which in turn allosterically controls RAF activation in Drosophila.

Evolution of SARS-CoV-2 and emergence of other sarbecoviruses are of potential concern. Here, the authors designed a trivalent spike-protein-nanoparticle vaccine that elicits neutralizing antibodies and protects female hamsters against challenges with SARS-CoV-2-like and SARS-CoV-1-like coronaviruses.

Neurotrophin receptor TrkB regulates neuronal growth and neuroplasticity. Here, the authors present the NMR structure of the intramembrane region of TrkB activated by antidepressant drugs, yielding insights into receptor function.

Bacteria can synthesize and secrete cellulosic polymers using membrane-associated multiprotein complexes consisting of cellulose synthases and accessory subunits. Here, Anso et al. use cryogenic electron microscopy to shed light on the mechanisms underlying accessory subunit recruitment and function within the Bcs macrocomplex for phosphoethanolamine-modified cellulose secretion in E. coli.

Low-temperature CO₂ methanation processes have potential for improved energy efficiency due to high equilibrium conversion but are generally limited by poor catalyst activity. Here the authors report an inverse CeZrO_x/Ni catalyst that realizes high low-temperature (200 °C) methanation activity at ambient pressure.

Nanobodies are promising GPCR-targeting therapeutics. Here, the authors investigate a nanobody targeting atypical chemokine receptor 3 (ACKR3), and map trends in GPCR nanobody structure, mechanism, and selectivity.

Fe–N–C materials are promising oxygen reduction catalysts for proton-exchange membrane fuel cells but still lack sufficient long-term durability for practical applications. Here the authors fabricate an Fe–N–C material with a thin N–C layer on the surface, leading to a highly durable and active catalyst.

Inducers of ferroptosis hold potential for cancer therapy. Here, the authors identify a peroxide-decorated liposome capable of inducing ferroptosis and enhancing the efficacy of chemotherapeutic agents and radiotherapy.

ASCT2 is a Na⁺-dependent obligatory amino acid exchanger. Here, the authors untangle the structural basis of the exchange mechanism in ASCT2, revealing that structural rigidity and a high-affinity Na⁺ binding site effectively confine ASCT2 to an exchange mode.

Electrons enter the mitochondrial respiratory chain via complex I. Here, the authors report high-resolution structures of mature plant complex I and one of its assembly intermediates, highlighting plant-specific features including an ancestral carbonic anhydrase domain.

Many neurotransmitters act on receptors coupled to GTP-binding G proteins. Here authors report the structure and activity of a mutant that locks the nucleotide-free and receptor-bound state of the G protein, leading to a rare neurological disorder.

Mitochondria disruption can elicit immune responses. Here the authors report the design and characterization of mitochondria targeting drug-free nanoassemblies promoting immunogenic cell death and anti-tumor immune responses in preclinical models.

Here the authors report that the metabolome profile is an unexploited factor impacting the targeting efficacy and safety of nanomedicines, using cholesterol as an example, showing a way and need to develop personalized nanomedicines by harnessing disease-related metabolites.

The histone H3K36 methyltransferase NSD3, which is associated with the common 8p11–12 chromosomal amplification, is an oncogenic driver in lung squamous cell carcinoma.

Two broadly reactive and inhibitory human monoclonal antibodies against the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum have been characterized, providing insights into immunity, prevention and treatment of severe malaria.

The bacterial insertase BAM is a key target for novel antibiotics that are urgently needed. Here, we describe the implementation of an assay that allows screening for BAM inhibitors in the native membrane in high-throughput format.

How the necroptosis executioner, MLKL, converts to a killer form has been mysterious. Here, authors show RIPK3-mediated phosphorylation of human MLKL is the cue for pseudokinase domain dimerization before assembly of pro-necroptotic MLKL tetramers.

Here, the authors use cryo-electron microscopy and solid-state NMR in concert to determine a distinctive W-shaped parallel β-sheet structure of in-vitro-prepared E22G Aβ40 fibrils.

Two cyclic dinucleotide molecules bind within the cavity of human SLC19A1 as a compact dual-molecule unit, whereas folate and antifolate bind to SLC19A1 as a monomer and occupy a distinct pocket of the cavity.

Understanding the structure-function relationship in Cu-catalyzed CO₂ reduction is challenging due to dynamic active sites. This study introduces stable coordination polymer catalysts with homogenized, single-site Cu, enabling the study and tuning of C–C coupling efficiency in CO₂ electroreduction.

The cryo-EM structures of MRGPRX1–Gq complexes are reported, which revealed the activation and allosteric modulation mechanism of human MRGPRX1 receptor, which may enable the structure-based identification of novel analgesics.

Chemical short-range order (CSRO) has been explored as a new design parameter for tuning the performance of multi-principal element alloys (MPEAs), yet its formation kinetics remains unclear. Here the authors demonstrate that significant CSRO forms during solidification, making it ubiquitous in many MPEAs.

The authors report the Cryo-EM of hnRNPDL-2 fibrils. The structure highlights features of a functional amyloid associated with limb-girdle muscular dystrophy-3 and explains how alternative splicing controls the assembly of this ribonucleoprotein.

Here, the authors develop a protein engineering method that enables high-resolution structural biology study of human fatty acid synthase. Using this technique, they uncover unique structural features of the enzyme and the mechanism of its inhibition by an anticancer drug Denifanstat.

Interactions between metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) and water are difficult to predict. Here, the authors report a Zn MOF follows two pathways upon water exposure. Characterization of both routes has revealed insights for future rational design.

Understanding the induced and cross reactive immunity to sarbecoviruses is an important step in rationale and widely applicable vaccine design. Here the authors use a multivalent S2 subunit vaccine and demonstrate protection in female mice against SARS-CoV-2-like and SARS-CoV-1-like coronaviruses.

The DNA polymerase α–primase complex undergoes dramatic configurational rearrangements to synthesize chimeric RNA-DNA primers across two separate active sites while maintaining simultaneous interactions at opposite ends of the primer–template duplex.

van der Waals magnets can be arranged into twisted heterostructures, with the twisting leading to the formation of new magnetic phases. Here, Li, Sun, and coauthors show via NVcentre based magnetometry small angle twisted double trilayer CrI₃ exhibits a co-existing, hybrid magnetic phase with distinct phase transition temperatures.

Structural studies of the itch receptors MRGPRX2 and MRGPRX4 in complex with endogenous and synthetic ligands provide a basis for the development of therapeutic compounds for pain, itch and mast cell-mediated hypersensitivity.

Understanding the deformation of nanoparticle lattices in elastic materials is crucial for photonics. Here, authors reveal 3D lattice transformations under strain with models and experiments, demonstrating tuneable optical properties and significant structural changes.

The defense-associated sirtuin 2 (DSR2) system protects bacteria from phages by depleting NAD⁺. Here, authors elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying DSR2 assembly, activation, and inhibition, providing important insights into bacterial anti-phage defense.

Amino acid changes in a newly identified spike epitope enabled the Delta variant to evade a population antibody response.