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Traditional iterative catalysis in RiPP biosynthesis typically modifies linear peptides. Here the authors discover GNAT enzymes that iteratively modify fully folded lasso peptides and engineer them to create lipolasso peptides with expanded chemical diversity.

Here, in a study of over 6,000 women across China, the authors show that Mycoplasma hominis infection strongly influences vaginal microbiota and is linked to higher risk of cervical lesions, highlighting its importance in women’s reproductive health.

Enantioselective C—C activation remains heavily underexplored and has been predominantly limited to intramolecular reactions. Here the authors report two categories of asymmetric intermolecular [4+2] annulations between benzocyclobutenones and unsaturated reagents, namely, alkynes and cyclic dicarbonyl compounds.

Developing multi-cancer early detection (MCED) tests based on cfDNA or protein markers holds great promise for effective cancer screening. Here, the authors show a sensitive, non-invasive pan-cancer detection method that concurrently detects the oncofetal chondroitin sulfate (ofCS) glycans and its protein backbone in plasma.

The red fluorescent protein mScarlet3-H is bright, photostable and very robust to high temperature, chaotropic conditions and oxidative environments. mScarlet3-H works well in correlative light and electron microscopy, tissue clearing and time-lapse super-resolution microscopy.

Here the authors present the crystal structure of a bacterial STING. The structure shows that bacterial STING can modulate immune responses by forming anti-parallel dimers or, in certain species, through the presence of a long lid.

The immune response of immunotherapy in colorectal cancer remains low and new adjuvant targets are in demand. By in vivo CRISPR-Cas9 screening that targets membrane and secreted proteins genes, the authors identify that disrupting MBTPS1 in tumor cells upregulates STAT1-transcribed chemokines, promotes CXCR3⁺ CD8 T cells infiltration and potentiates anti-PD-1 therapy.

Here, by performing an integrative multi-omics analysis coupled to clinical features of COVID-19 patients prospectively followed for up to 6 month, the authors identify specific gut microbiome patterns associated with disease severity and development of post-acute COVID-19 syndrome.

The class of BODIPY dyes has high solubility and high quantum yields and is widely used in imaging applications. Here Tian et al. synthesize new dye molecules and demonstrate extended emission properties and application scope controllable both by the excitation wavelength and aggregation states.

Implantable supercapacitors are promising for the use as energy supply devices within the body, but their utility is hindered by coagulation and thrombosis. Here, the authors report an implantable supercapacitor that exhibits good anticoagulant properties and cycling stability.

Orexin signaling is provided by diffusely distributed fibers and involved in different brain circuits that orchestrate sleep and wakefulness states. Here, the authors show that a proportion of orexin neurons project to the sublaterodorsal tegmental nucleus and exhibit rapid eye movement (REM) sleep-related actions.

The genetic bases of yak adaptations to extreme conditions remains elusive. This study compares yak and cattle at a genomic and transcriptomic level, revealing a new type of endothelial cell and candidate genes related with elastic fiber formation in yak lungs that might contribute to high altitude adaptation.

Single-atom catalysts emerge as nanocatalytic medicine in chemodynamic therapy but suffer from inefficient kinetics for the production of reactive oxygen species because of the cell’s antioxidative mechanisms. Here, the authors employ a galvanic replacement approach to create atomically dispersed Au on degradable zero-valent Cu nanocubes for tumor treatment.

A draft genome sequence of the hornwort Anthoceros augustus confirms the phylogenetic relationships among the three clades of bryophytes and provides insight into the unique characteristics of hornworts and their adaptations to live on land.

The D₂ dopamine receptor (DRD2) is one of the most well-established therapeutic targets for neuropsychiatric and endocrine disorders. Here, the authors report the crystal structure of the antipsychotic drug haloperidol bound to DRD2 via an extended binding pocket that distinguishes it from other D₂-like subtypes.

IgA nephropathy is a major cause of end-stage renal disease in China, occurring at a high frequency in Asian populations. Here Li and colleagues conduct a four-stage genome-wide association study in a Chinese population, identifying novel loci and variants associated with disease risk.

Age-related macular degeneration is a prominent cause of irreversible blindness among the elderly. Here Huang et al.identify a novel missense variant in UBE3D that sheds new light on the pathogenesis of the disease.

By solving the complex structures of third-generation antipsychotic drugs (TGAs) with the 5HT_2A receptor, Chen et al. unravel their unique pharmacology and design a novel TGA lead that has cognition-improving and potential antidepressant properties.

Single-atom Rh catalysts present superior activity in olefins hydroformylation, yet with limited success in regioselectivity control. Here the authors develop a Rh1 single-atom catalyst with nanodiamond as support, with which good to excellent regioselectivities to branched aldehydes in hydroformylation of terminal olefins are achieved.

The authors show that the Drosophila master regulator WAKE modulates the secretion of insulin-like peptides, triggering a decrease in 20-hydroxyecdysone levels. This lowers the perception of a male-specific sex pheromone and explains why WAKE-deficient Drosophila flies show male-male courtship behaviour.

Neuroblastoma cell differentiation is regulated by Id proteins. Here, the authors show that CaMKII-mediated phosphorylation of Beclin 1 can activate K63-linked ubiquitination and autophagic degradation of Id proteins uncovering a role for autophagy in cell differentiation.

Gluconeogenesis is downregulated in hepatocellular carcinoma. Here, the authors show that nuclear receptor Nur77 acts as a tumour suppressor sustaining gluconeogenesis by enhancing phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK1) stability via regulating its interaction with the SUMO-conjugating enzyme Ubc9.

Qing Wang and colleagues report a genome-wide association study for coronary artery disease (CAD) in a Chinese Han population. They identify a locus on chromosome 6p24.1 newly associated with CAD.

The gastrointestinal tract is involved in COVID-19, gastrointestinal symptoms can occur and marked changes in the gut microbiota have been observed. This Perspective highlights interactions between the gut microbiota and SARS-CoV-2 infection and increasing interest in the gut–lung axis.