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The transcriptional landscape of cell populations of the mouse bone marrow microenvironment, mapped at single-cell resolution, reveals cellular heterogeneity in this niche as well as substantial transcriptional remodelling under stress conditions.

Draft sequences of the rice genome have been produced by two groups. The drafts will be an invaluable resource for research on the genomes of other plants, the cereals in particular.

Machine learning analyses and playback experiments in wild African elephants suggest that individuals address conspecifics with name-like calls that do not rely on imitation of the receiver.

A high-throughput chemical–genetic screening approach for the discovery of targets and chemicals to treat Mycobacterium tuberculosis yields tenfold more hit compounds than conventional whole-cell screening methods.

A high-resolution local palaeoclimatic archive is correlated to the early Holocene human behavioural record at the British Mesolithic site of Star Carr. Despite environmental stresses at this time, intensive human activity persisted over centuries, suggesting resilience to climate change.

In photosynthesis, excess light energy is dissipated as heat by non-photochemical quenching (NPQ). The localization of proteins and their interactions in thylakoid membranes under high and low light conditions suggests that NPQ involves monomerization of the dimeric protein PsbS and interaction of the resulting monomers with components of trimeric light-harvesting complexes of photosystem II.

The chemistry at the interface between electrolyte and electrode plays a critical role in determining battery performance. Here, the authors show that a NaBr enriched solid–electrolyte interphase can lower the surface diffusion barrier for sodium ions, enabling stable electrodeposition.

This study examines the effect of four marine heatwaves in the Northeast Pacific on the distributions of 14 top predators, revealing a wide-array of predator responses both among and within heatwaves. Predator responses were highly predictable, demonstrating capacity for early warning systems of heatwave impacts, similar to weather forecasts.

Genome-wide maps of DNA methylation have so far been restricted to plants, animals and fungi. Here, the authors report the first whole-genome methylome of a stramenopile, the diatom Phaeodactylum tricornatum, and provide insight into the evolution of DNA methylation in eukaryotes.

The millennium volcano eruption rather than climate change primarily alters montane vegetation compositions at Changbaishan, causing larger abundance of broad-leaf forests with tundra dominating at high elevations, based on reconstructive vegetation from deposits and remote sensing data.

Spatial positioning of the division plane in plant cells is determined premitotically by the preprophase band of microtubules. Spinner et al. show that its formation in Arabidopsisrequires a PP2A complex containing FASS and TON1 which is recruited to cortical microtubules by the TRM protein family.

Expression of a single trehalose transgene in maize improves yield in field trials in both well-watered and drought conditions.

An efficient vaccine for human metapneumovirus (hMPV) will likely rely on neutralizing antibodies against the fusion protein (F). Here, the authors determine the crystal structure of pre-fusion-stabilized hMPV F and identify a dense glycan shield that affects generation of neutralizing antibodies.

‘The timing and ecological dynamics of extinction in the late Pleistocene are not well understood. Here, the authors use sediment ancient DNA from permafrost cores to reconstruct the paleoecology of the central Yukon, finding a substantial turnover in ecosystem composition between 13,500-10,000 years BP and persistence of some species past their supposed extinctions.’

Resident microglia in the central nervous system are identified as the specific macrophage population that regulates myelin growth and integrity.

Red blood cells (RBCs) are phagocytosed in the spleen in sickle cell disease and malaria. Here, Cao et al. show that high mannose N-glycans, exposed on diseased or oxidized RBC surfaces, bind mannose receptor CD206 on host cells, mediating phagocytosis.

Dense three-dimensional integration of photonics and electronics results in a high-speed (800 Gb s⁻¹) data interface for semiconductor chips that features 80 communication channels and consumes only tens of femtojoules per transmitted bit.

Although light is needed for photosynthesis, it can also cause severe oxidative damage. For this reason, protective mechanisms involving feedback-regulated de-excitation of chlorophyll molecules in photosystem II (qE) have evolved. In contrast to flowering plants, little is known about the qE mechanism of eukaryotic algae. Here, a qE-deficient mutant green alga is shown to lack two of the three genes encoding LHCSR, an ancient member of the light-harvesting complex superfamily.

CD103⁺ T cells are associated with control over tumors but how this is mediated is unclear. Here the authors show that CD61 colocalizes and functionally combines with CD103 in the T cell synaptic response to promote antitumor T cell responses.

Diffuse X-ray scattering with femtosecond resolution shows the formation and relaxation of polaronic distortions in halide perovskites. These structural changes are also quantified and correlated to transient changes in carrier effective mass.

A systematic analysis is performed to reveal how deposition conditions and the use of cations and solvents affect the composition and orientation of 2D and quasi-2D metal halide perovskites in thin films.

The LEAFY transcription factor is a master regulator of flower development in plants. Here the authors describe the structure of a LEAFY oligomerization domain and show that mutations that disrupt oligomerization alter its capacity to bind low affinity and poorly accessible target sites.

Cell free DNA fragmentation is a promising biomarker for disease, but its epigenetic regulation is incompletely understood. Here, the authors investigated the effects of DNA methylation in the production of cfDNA fragmentation, and corelate these changes with gene expression in human cancer.

A comprehensive longitudinal analysis of individuals with preclinical Huntington’s disease identifies biomarkers of neurodegeneration and somatic expansion in blood DNA, detectable years before symptom onset.

Mammary epithelial cells are epigenetically modified during pregnancy, these changes can influence the pre-disposition to cancer. Here, the authors examine the epigenetic landscape of mammary epithelial cells pre and post pregnancy and identify changes to the epigenetic landscape, which can protect mice from Myc induced cancer.

Results of the TRACERx study shed new light into the association between body composition and body weight with survival in individuals with non-small cell lung cancer, and delineate potential biological processes and mediators contributing to the development of cancer-associated cachexia.

Dexamethasone has been used in the treatment of critically ill COVID-19 patients. Here the authors apply transcriptomics to investigate the effects of dexamethasone treatment in COVID-19 patients, and show both systemic and compartment-specific effects.

The PSA (KLK3) genetic variant rs17632542 is associated with reduced prostate cancer risk and lower serum PSA levels, although the underlying reasons are unclear. Here, the authors show that this PSA variant reduced proteolytic activity and leads to smaller tumours, but also increases invasion and bone metastasis, indicating its dual risk association depending on tumour context; the variant is associated with both lower risk and poor clinical outcomes.

Combination of epidemiology, preclinical models and ultradeep DNA profiling of clinical cohorts unpicks the inflammatory mechanism by which air pollution promotes lung cancer

Cryo-EM structures of human ESCRT-III proteins forming membrane-bound and membrane-free filaments show how CHMP1B and IST1 polymerize sequentially, driving membrane tubulation, constriction and bilayer thinning, leading to membrane fission.

Tracking data from 17 marine predator species in the Southern Ocean are used to identify Areas of Ecological Significance, the protection of which could help to mitigate increasing pressures on Southern Ocean ecosystems.

Crabeater seals feed predominantly on Antarctic krill. Combining seal tracks and diving behaviour with environmental variables allows the future foraging habitat, and therefore krill distribution, to be predicted, suggesting a shift offshore and south along the western Antarctic Peninsula.

Researchers from Hawaii and an international consortium have produced a draft genome assembly for 'SunUp', the first commercial virus-resistant transgenic fruit tree. Comparison of this plant genome to those of Arabidopsis and others sheds light on evolution of characteristics such as biosynthesis, starch deposition, control of photosynthesis and pathways for creating volatile compounds.