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The acetyl-CoA pathway is the most ancient CO₂ fixation pathway in nature. Here, the authors show that metals selectively reduce CO₂ to the intermediates and end-products of the acetyl-CoA pathway, which is consistent with a prebiotic origin of this pathway.

SF₆ is a potent greenhouse gas, and its current degradation needs harsh conditions and post-treatment. Herein one-step mineralisation at room temp using KOH in water/IPA under UV is shown via acetone-sensitised autocatalysis, yielding sulfite and fluoride.

The development of advanced electrocatalysts with high efficiency and longevity is essential to alleviate the energy crisis. Here, the authors report an atomic editing strategy to access atomically dispersed, heteronuclear triatomic Fe and Co sites to endow improved activity and stability.

A Gifsy-1 prophage–encoded higher eukaryotes and prokaryotes nucleotide-binding protein, HepS, senses Siphoviridae infection, activates abortive defence by cleaving host transfer RNAs, blocks rival phages and avoids self-targeting via tail-tip variation.

Smc5/6 association with DNA junctions can support genomic functions. Here, the authors show that Smc5/6 junction polarity preferences, targeting, and dwell times are determined by its structural modules as well as the RPA and PCNA genomic factors.

Insulin signaling plays a crucial role in coordinating skeletal development with whole‑body energy metabolism. Here, the authors use phosphoproteomics to show insulin-signaling rewiring in aged, insulin-resistant bone and identify defective phosphorylation of AFF4 as a key mechanism for regulating gene-specific transcriptional activation.

Rearrangement of the B cell receptor is sequential, and pairing of the successfully assembled heavy chain with the surrogate light chain proteins VpreB and λ5 to form the pre-B cell receptor is an important checkpoint signal for continued B cell development. Here, the authors show that λ5 plays a key role in the multi-step assembly process involving association-induced folding reactions.

AvrPm4 is a chimeric powdery mildew effector that is recognized by the wheat kinase fusion resistance protein Pm4. The pathogen can evade Pm4 recognition by expressing the suppressor SvrPm4, an RNase-like effector with multiple roles.

Structure-specific endonucleases play an important role in several DNA repair pathways. Here the authors present structures of the endonuclease XPF-ERCC1 in complex with SLX4, SLX4IP, and DNA. Combined with functional analysis, these results provide insight into the mechanisms of XPF-ERCC1 recruitment and activation during DNA repair.

N¹-Methylpseudouridine enhances the translation of synthetic mRNAs, independently of innate immunity.

Membrane ion channels can be responsive to a variety of stimuli such as pressure, temperature, or pH. Here, the authors show that simply shining 365 nm light activates a native potassium channel in rodent pain-sensing neurons, delivering powerful analgesia without drugs or genetic manipulations.

The DNA-dependent protease SPRTN cleaves toxic DNA-protein crosslinks (DPCs). Here, the authors show that SPRTN is activated by DPC-ubiquitylation through an allosteric ubiquitin binding interface. This regulatory mechanism enables precise control of SPRTN activity during DNA repair.

PARM is a deep-learning model trained on data from massively parallel reporter assays to help predict promoter activity in different human cell types, design synthetic promoters and identify key features of regulatory promoter grammar.

Solar water splitting using metal–insulator–semiconductor junctions has proven efficient, but these junctions degrade very rapidly. Here, the authors engineer metal–insulator–semiconductor interfaces in which Fermi-level pinning is reduced, producing an efficient and durable photoanode for solar-driven water oxidation.

Hydrogen evolution and oxidation on platinum surfaces are central reactions in electrochemical devices. Sun et al. show that they can be promoted by introduction of the organic molecules, N-methylimidazoles, and explore the underlying phenomena at play through in situ spectroscopy and computation.

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.

Understanding the active state of electrocatalysts during operation is crucial for advancing catalyst development. Here, the authors report an operando X-ray absorption spectroscopic study revealing a structural change in Mn spinel oxide electrocatalysts in a fuel cell.

Crystal growth is visualized inside non-transparent liquid metals, while preserving their original state, using X-ray micro-computed tomography to reveal how liquid metal solvent composition and cooling conditions influence crystal formation.

Electrochemical conversion of CO₂ into value-added chemicals holds promise to enable the transition to carbon neutrality, but enhancing the selectivity toward a specific hydrocarbon product remains a challenging task. Now, the authors present a Cu–polyamine hybrid catalyst that achieves Faradaic efficiency of 87% for ethylene and full-cell energy efficiency of 50%.

Pyramidal neuron-driven mechanisms actively promote the survival and terminal differentiation of their associated interneuron subtypes.

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.

Chemical recycling of poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) typically requires high temperatures. Here, the authors report the UV-initiated depolymerisation of PMMA at low temperatures, in non-chlorinated solvents, such as benzonitrile.

Targeting neurons that regulate energy balance may offer new approaches for obesity treatment. Here, authors show that chemogenetic and pharmacological manipulation of GABAergic neurons in the DRN/vlPAG increases adaptive thermogenesis and reduces weight gain in mice fed a highfat diet.

Current catalysts for water-splitting electrolyzers are scarce and unstable under acidic conditions. Here, the authors report that cobalt oxyhydroxide works across all pH levels, delivering stable industrial-scale current for 400 h while its redox behavior adapts with acidity.

A multimodal robotic platform is used to discover and optimize an electrocatalyst composition for formate oxidation.

Neural circuits in adult mouse visual cortex are stabilized by astrocytes, which secrete CCN1, resulting in reduced plasticity and increased maturation of multiple cell types.

NiFe-based hydroxides are well-known for alkaline water oxidation but face efficiency issues due to unclear Fe dynamics. Here, the authors report that surface Fe dynamics are affected by Fe diffusion on the counter electrode and have developed a zinc-templated precursor to stabilize active Fe sites.

The authors present a Mn incorporation strategy to enhance the stability of PdH_x metallenes by locking interstitial H atoms via strong electronic interactions in the immiscible alloy, resulting in an improved alkaline oxygen reduction reaction activity and stability at working temperature around 353 K.

Low temperature ionic conducting materials such as OH^- and H⁺ ionic conductors are important electrolyte materials. Here the authors report the discovery of fast mixed OH^- /H⁺ conductors in ceramic materials, SrZr0.8Y0.2O3-δ and CaZr0.8Y0.2O3-δ, for potential use as electrolytes in fuel cells.

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.

Hutchinson-Gilford Progeria Syndrome is characterized by premature aging with cardiovascular disease being the main cause of death. Here the authors show that inhibition of the NAT10 enzyme enhances cardiac function and fitness, and reduces age-related phenotypes in a mouse model of premature aging.

Magnetic field has been observed to promote oxygen evolution at some circumstance, however the reason for the enhancement remains unclear. Here, the authors show that enhancement is due to the disappearance of magnetic domain walls.

Lead halide perovskites excel in optical and electronic properties, drawing significant attention in solar fuel studies. Here, the authors report a stable FAPbBr₃ photoanode optimized for water oxidation to achieve a low onset potential and high applied bias photon-to-current efficiency.

Ubiquitination is a versatile modification system in eukaryotic cells. Here, the authors unveil that the ubiquitin ligase HUWE1 can modify drug-like small-molecule substrates, beyond proteins. This discovery may be harnessed to develop specific tool substrates or inhibitors of HECT-type ligases.

Cells can sense mitochondrial damage through signalling via an unimported mitochondrial targeting sequence.

Yashinskie, Zhu and colleagues show that p53 activation triggers increased synthesis and accumulation of phospholipids, with enhanced activation of autophagy and lysosomal catabolism programmes and increased reliance on lipid headgroup recycling.

The processes of photosynthesis, aerobic and anaerobic respiration (fermentation) power life on Earth. Here, using mainly green alga Chlamydomonas, the authors find that the weak acids produced during fermentation could chemically suppress both photosynthesis and aerobic respiration.

There is ongoing research into new electrocatalysts for hydrogen production from water splitting. Here, the authors report the electrocatalytic performance of nickel/nickel oxide heterostructures on carbon nanotubes, and are able to assemble a water electrolyzer operated by a single-cell 1.5 V battery.

The study reveals how bortezomib activates Mycobacterium tuberculosis Clp protease complexes. Cryo-EM structures reveal how sub-stoichiometric bortezomib binding triggers structural changes, mediates holoenzyme formation and disrupts Clp system regulation.

The gut microbiota-derived metabolite indole-3-propionic acid (IPA) is found to enhance mitochondrial fatty acid and amino acid oxidation in CD4⁺ T cells. In mice, IPA-mediated metabolic reprogramming of CD4⁺ T cells exerts anti-inflammatory effects and protects against colitis.

Vertebra lengths differ from the neck to the tail tip and differ between species, evidenced by extreme differences in mouse and jerboa tails. Here, Weber and colleagues identify cellular mechanisms and candidate genes that shape vertebral proportion.

Protein complexes are essential for cell function. Here, authors show that paired ribosomes can help each other’s nascent chains fold correctly, enabling proper dimer assembly and preventing misfolding, using lamin as a model system.

Structural and biochemical analyses reveal details of how UFM1 conjugation and deconjugation mediate ribosome recycling and quality control.

Cells must sense heat quickly to protect their proteins and membranes. Here, the authors show that membrane stretch detected by the membrane sensor Mid2 promotes rapid phosphorylation of the Hsp70 chaperone to coordinate gene activity, protein synthesis and resolution of stress-induced protein droplets during heat shock.

Electrochemical CO₂ reduction to fuels and chemicals is typically accompanied by oxygen evolution as the anodic half reaction. Here, Verma et al. identify glycerol oxidation as a viable alternative half reaction, reducing cradle-to-gate CO₂ emissions and improving the economics of CO₂ conversion.

Class I and II benzoyl-coenzyme A reductases offer a mild biological alternative to the alkali metal- and ammonia-dependent Birch reduction, a classical synthetic method for achieving dihydro additions to arenes. Here, the authors characterize double-cubane [8Fe-9S] and active site aqua-[4Fe-4S] clusters of a class I benzoyl-CoA reductase and provide evidence for a radical mechanism.

Telomerase recruitment to telomeres is a tightly regulated process which is stimulated by replication stress. Here, the authors identify that nuclear filamentous actin is important for interaction between telomerase and telomeres, ultimately facilitating productive telomere extension by telomerase.

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.

The scale-up of the coupling of water electroreduction (HER) with organic electrooxidation remains challenging. Here the authors address this challenge by coupling HER with electrooxidation of raw biomass chitin, cogenerating acetate and green hydrogen safely at high current density.