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Given the interest in extracellular vesicles there is a need for simple short scaffold proteins for efficient targeting and cargo loading. Here, the authors identify a candidate scaffold protein and find the truncated version allows for efficient loading which outperforms current scaffold proteins, demonstrating application in sepsis therapy.

Delivery to the eye can be complex. Here, the authors report on eyedrop based delivery using zwitterionic nanocages to deliver catalase and superoxide dismutase for enzymatic cascade therapy to treat geographic atrophy, which outperforms intravitreal injection and current clinical antioxidants and supplements.

Measurement-based quantum computing implements quantum algorithms by performing sequences of measurements on special classes of entangled states, such as cluster states. This approach has now been demonstrated on a superconducting quantum processor.

Kindlin dimerization has been proposed as a key step in integrin activation and clustering, yet its very slow in vitro kinetics challenge this role. Here, the authors show that physiological mechanical forces drive kindlin dimerization through mechanical allostery, lowering the free-energy barrier of the rate-limiting closed-to-open transition and thereby enabling rapid, force-dependent kindlin dimerization and integrin mechanoactivation.

Subtle variation can reshape protein structure but are hard to identify. Here, authors present MELO, which measures and locates structural changes, outperforms existing tools, and uncovers over 10,000 previously missed protein structure change pairs.

An orthosteric CSN inhibitor gains nanomolar potency via a molecular-glue mechanism, stabilizing a CSN5–N8–inhibitor complex that confers substrate-dependent inhibition despite weak free-enzyme affinity.

Uterine lining is receptive to an embryo during a specific period of the menstrual cycle, called the window of implantation. Here, Liu et al. construct a spatiotemporal atlas of human endometrium at single-cell resolution to decrypt the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying endometrial receptivity and the onset and closure of implantation window.

Tracking the success rate of clinical drug development is key for pharmaceutical and economic decision making. Here, the authors establish a strategy enabling dynamic measurement of the success rate using public data and generate an online platform.

The discovery of chemosynthesis-based benthic communities at depths of 5,800 m to 9,533 m in the Kuril–Kamchatka and western Aleutian trenches challenges traditional perspectives on the energy sources sustaining hadal fauna.

Practical implementation of all-perovskite tandem solar cells faces challenges due to the self-reinforcing photothermal-mechanical degradation mechanism. Here, authors employ a polyamine ligand to establish I-Sn-N coordination for stabilizing lattice framework, achieving device efficiency of 29.6%.

Shao et al. developed an MRI–pathology-based foundation model to assess the pathology of prostate cancer for diagnosis and grading of tumors. The model is noninvasive and outperforms current pathological assessments.

Off-target effects have limited RNA degradation approaches. Here, the authors develop a tumor microenvironment-activated ribonuclease targeting chimera (RiboTAC) demonstrating H₂O₂ and acid activated degradation of pre-miR-21, which was effective in restoring radiosensitivity in lung cancer.

Chrysanthemum is an important ornamental species with great economic value. Here, the authors assemble the haploid genome of C. morifolium, reveal its segmental allopolyploid genomic composition (AA’B), and identify candidate genes associated with flower development, petal shape, and flower colour.

This study identifies lineage-specific XEG1/XLP1 gene pair in the genus Phytophthora, revealing that selective pressure on these genes drives functional differentiation. This selection is closely linked to the host range and adaptability of Phytophthora species.

An endohedral metallofullerene–polymer layer, which features ultrafast electron extraction and in situ encapsulation, improves the efficiency and stability of perovskite solar cells.

Embryo implantation failure is a leading cause of miscarriage, though the mechanisms underlying trophoblast defects are not well understood. Here they show that the histone acetyltransferase KAT8 is essential for proper activation of the trophoblast stemness gene CDX2, and that placental development can be partially rescued by inhibiting histone deacetylase activity.

The discovery of 2023 KQ₁₄, a Sedna-like object with a perihelion of 66 au, fills a gap in the known population. Its orbit does not align with other Sedna-like objects, shedding light on the diversity and dynamical history of the outer Solar System.

UM171 promotes corepressor degradation by acting as a molecular glue to induce KBTBD4–HDAC1/2 interactions with the help of inositol hexakisphosphate.

Neurogenic bladder often occurs after pelvic ganglia injury. Here, the authors designed a fiber-enhanced tissue bandage for injured pelvic ganglia that facilitates the delivery of growth factors essential for ganglia healing.

Physical exercise relieves anxiety disorders, while the neural circuit remains incomplete. Here, authors show that treadmill training enhanced input from the primary motor region to the medial prefrontal cortex, via the ventromedial thalamic nuclei.

Ethanol electrosynthesis from CO reduction is achieved using an oxygen-affinity-engineered copper alloy catalyst. Unlike conventional CO dimerization pathways, which yield diverse products, this catalyst selectively promotes the CO–CH_x coupling route, enabling selective ethanol production.

The authors propose a sustainable route for acetone synthesis by directly reacting propane and water with PtSn nanoparticles on γ-Al₂O₃ as the catalyst

The study reconstructed Holocene seasonal temperatures using 1,310 pollen records covering the Northern Hemisphere landmass, and show that both summer and winter temperatures peaked at ~7 ka BP, but with significant spatial variability.

Surface of colloidal quantum dot is sensitive to water, and the interaction could potentially alter its chemical environments. Here, Shi et al. investigate how the interaction effects the nanostructures and carrier dynamic in CQDs, and subsequently introduce meniscus-guided coating technique to mitigate CQD fusion triggered by water adsorption.

The instability of quantum dot inks hinders the scaling up of colloidal quantum dot electronics. Now, Shi and team stabilize the inks with an iodine-rich environment in a weakly coordinating solvent, achieving 13.4% in small-area solar cells and over 10% in modules.

Phytophthora secretes a conserved trypsin-like serine protease, PsTry1, that suppresses apoplastic immunity by cleaving the extracellular domain of the co-receptor BAK1, revealing a novel mechanism by which pathogens overcome apoplastic immune defences.

We show that gain-of-function cancer mutations in the KBTBD4 E3 ligase promote neodegradation of substrates via a shape-complementarity-based mechanism, which converges with the mechanism of action of the UM171 molecular glue degrader and can be blocked by HDAC1/2 inhibitors.

The mechanism of parturition initiation remains elusive. Here, authors show that epithelium is an underestimated site for parturition initiation via epithelial PGF2a regulated by SHP2-COX1/COX2.

Wei et al. report a unique interspecific ascidian hybrid system and single-cell RNA sequencing to reveal the temporal hierarchy, spatial heterogeneity, and allele-specific expression of zygotic genome activation in urochordates.

Nucleotide second messengers are employed by many bacterial species to regulate various cellular processes. Here, the authors demonstrate that 2',3'-cyclic guanosine monophosphate (2',3'-cGMP) controls the important biological functions and virulence in Ralstonia solanacearum by abolishing the interaction between a transcriptional regulator and the promoters of target genes.

Neural mechanisms underlying strengthening of escape behaviors are not fully understood. Here authors show that mPFC (medial prefrontal cortex)/VTg (ventral tegmental nucleus of gudden) to cholecystokinin expressing neurons in PMd (dorsal premammillary nucleus) neural pathway controls the threat memory-driven strengthening of escape. Furthermore, authors demonstrate a heterosynaptic role of eCB (endocannabinoid) signaling as the underlying molecular mechanism.

Although theoretical advances in the reactivity of organic compounds have progressed rapidly, a complete understanding of the causal relationships between molecular structures and reaction outcomes based solely on first principles remains elusive. Here, the authors use an in-house HTE platform to conduct over 11,000 distinct acid amine couplings, with an accompanying Bayesian neural network model that gives a prediction accuracy of 89.48% for reaction feasibility.

A subcutaneous hydrogel electrostatically entrapping live Zika virus recruited immune cells at the injection site and provided mice with effective protection against a lethal challenge.

Before ovulation, a surge of luteinizing hormone (LH) triggers the resumption of meiosis in oocytes, which is mediated by EGF-like growth factors. Here, the authors show that HDAC3 inhibits mouse oocyte maturation by negatively regulating the expression of EGF-like factor before the LH surge.

The uterine stroma only fully differentiates postnatally, but how this is regulated remains unclear. Here they show that postnatal uterine stromal development is mediated at an epigenetic level by PRSET7, which represses interferon response genes.

The decidualization of endometrial stroma is critical for pregnancy maintenance. Here the authors reveal that Menin ensures the expression of PTX3 through H3K4me3 modification, to balance the BMP and FGF signal in the decidua for normal pregnancy.

Using CO and H₂O to electrosynthesize oxygenates is a possible low-carbon synthetic route. Here, the authors study the CO adsorption behavior on Ag catalysts and design a Cu-Ag nanostructure catalyst with a relay mechanism that enhances the electrosynthesis of oxygenates.

The transformation of CO2 with renewable hydrogen into high-value products presents a sustainable route for net-zero chemical manufacture. Here the authors introduce a LaFeO3 perovskite-mediated tandem conversion of CO2, achieving remarkable performance by separating the CO2 hydrogenation and C-C coupling domains in the catalyst system.

The biosynthesis of xanthones has not been well documented. Here, the authors report that monooxygenase FlsO1 catalyzes three successive oxidations – hydroxylation, epoxidation and Baeyer–Villiger oxidation—to form the xanthone scaffold in actinomycetes.

Alpha-fetoprotein producing gastric carcinomas (AFPGC) are rare and aggressive. Here, the authors profile AFPGC tumours using whole exome sequencing, and find amplifications in CCNE1 and ERBB2 that are associated with poor outcomes but are potential therapeutic targets, as shown in patient-derived xenografts.

Mechanistic insight into how SARS-CoV-2 nsp14 methyltransferase activity installs m⁷G on host RNAs to drive stress-granule assembly.

The material-based evolution of organisms has attracted broad interdisciplinary interest, however, the fabrication of material-integrated organelles remains inadequately exploited. Here the authors engineer a bioartificial organism by integrating a semiartificial and specific virus-scavenging organelle to scavenge pathogenic waterborne viruses.