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The origin and control of material dynamics are crucial for understanding functional systems, yet direct visualization of rapid changes in single crystals remains challenging. Here, the authors report an anthracene-based molecular crystal platform that enables dual physical control of solid-state [4 + 4] photocycloaddition through temperature and light.

Trace elements and their isotopes are powerful as tracers in the modern ocean and proxies for oceans of the past, although there are limited data for elements such as copper. Here, the authors present copper isotope data from both seawater and rainwater, providing insight into marine biogeochemical cycling.

Analysis of the blood DNA virome in patients with COVID-19 and autoimmune disease associates endogenous HHV-6 (eHHV-6) and high anellovirus load with increased disease risk, most notably for systemic lupus erythematosus. eHHV-6 carriers show a distinct immune response.

A single-cell multiomic immune cell atlas from 235 Japanese, including patients with COVID-19 and healthy individuals, linked with host genetics including germline and somatic mutation, plasma proteomics and metagenomics data reveals that immune cells are dynamically regulated in a cell state-dependent manner.

Borophene exhibits attractive electronic and optical properties, but its instability has so far limited its applications. Here, the authors report the synthesis of a liquid-state borophene analogue showing a good thermal stability up to 350 °C and an electrically-controlled optical switching behaviour.

Modifying the non-ribosomal peptide synthase (NRPS)/polyketide synthase (PKS) pathway to generate novel non-ribosomal peptides often results in a loss of productivity. Here the authors use evolutionary alignments of NRPS/PKS gene clusters to guide rational design of complexes that can produce novel lactones.

Lineage switching (LS) facilitates acute myeloid leukemia (AML) escaping CD19 targeted immunotherapy, but the underlying mechanism are not well understood. The authors here analyze patients’ single-cell mass cytometry and single-cell transcriptomics data, and identify an LS AML with the MDSC-like phenotype which is associated with LS in AML with KMT2A rearrangement.

Single-molecule calibrated live microscopy and computational modelling have revealed that human nuclear pore complex assembly takes different pathways during the exit from mitosis and during nuclear growth in interphase.

A genome-wide association study highlights a variant in DOCK2, which is common in East Asian populations but rare in Europeans, as a host genetic risk factor for severe COVID-19.

Histone deacetylation at the onset of mitosis induces a chromatin-intrinsic phase transition that endows chromosomes with the physical characteristics necessary for their precise movement during cell division.

Statistical fine-mapping of mRNA and protein quantitative trait loci in blood samples from the Japan COVID-19 Task Force sheds light on regulatory mechanisms and disease associations.

A global network of researchers was formed to investigate the role of human genetics in SARS-CoV-2 infection and COVID-19 severity; this paper reports 13 genome-wide significant loci and potentially actionable mechanisms in response to infection.

A strain of Amoebophrya isolated from Osaka Bay, Japan infects Karenia mikimotoi and K. papilionacea while showing no infectivity towards K. selliformis or 14 other dinoflagellate species. In laboratory experiments, infection with Amoebophyra caused a substantial suppression of host growth.

Genetic mechanisms influencing COVID-19 susceptibility are not well understood. Here, the authors analyzed whole blood RNA-seq data of 465 Japanese individuals with COVID-19, highlighting thousands of fine-mapped variants affecting expression and splicing of genes, as well as the presence of COVID-19 severity-interaction eQTLs.

Although photoinduced concerted multiple-bond-rotation processes are known in photoactive biological systems, the synthesis of compounds exhibiting similar behaviour has proven challenging. Now a thioamide-based system featuring chalcogen substituents has been shown to exhibit photoinduced C–N/C–C rotation; the rotation mode can be switched depending on external stimuli such as temperature and light irradiation.

Peripheral blood mononuclear cells from 73 Japanese patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and 75 healthy controls were analyzed using single-cell transcriptomics. Combining these data with genotyping data highlights the interplay between host genetics and the immune response in modulating disease severity.

Damaged mitochondria are eliminated from the cell by a form of autophagy called mitophagy. Here the authors show that during mitophagy, specific proteins are rescued from degradation by evacuation from the mitochondria to the endoplasmic reticulum.

The protein kinase ASK1 has been linked to cellular stress responses. Here the authors show that ASK1 also regulates gene expression and activity of beige and brown adipocytes, and demonstrate adipocyte ASK1 has a physiological role in regulating thermogenesis in mice.

Centrioles are characterized by an atypical triplet microtubule structure. Here, the authors discover that the ciliopathy protein HYLS1 promotes the assembly of triplet microtubules within human centrioles.

Transdermal delivery has emerged as a preferred method of drug delivery. Here, the authors report on the application of porous polymer microneedles coupled with electroosmosis powered by enzymatic batteries for the transport of small and large molecules through the skin.

Regioselective prenylation of small aromatic natural molecules is crucial for their biological activity. Here, the authors present the biochemical and structural characterisation of two prenyltransferases and a structure-based engineering strategy to modulate their substrate specificity.

Demethylase JMJD1A activates thermogenesis-related target genes in response to β-adrenergic hormones. Here, the authors show that phosphorylation of JMJD1A at S265 increases its interaction with the SWI/SNF chromatin remodeler, leading to long-range chromatin interactions and target gene activation.

Acquisition of mesenchymal properties by cancer cells is a critical event for the development of malignancy. Here, the authors show that in renal cancer cells, lysosphosphatidic acid does not utilize the RhoA pathway but specifically activates the Arf6 mesenchymal pathway via its GPCRs and EFA6 to promote invasion, metastasis and drug resistance.

Living organisms are able to grow structures on their surface for specific applications. Here, the authors report on a force-triggered polymerisation mechanism of double-network hydrogels which allows for the growth of structures on polymer surfaces within seconds and demonstrate the creation of different functionalities.

Structural and functional analyses of two cytochrome P450 monooxygenases reveal how they catalyze C–N bond formation via a diradical mechanism and are able to accommodate a variety of substrates to form either indolactam or tricyclic products.

The relevance of cell competition in intestinal epithelial carcinogenesis remains to be explored. Here, the authors find aberrant Wnt activation in RasV12-transformed cells reverses the directionality of cell extrusion mediated by cell competition in intestinal epithelium, causing infiltration into basal lamina rather than apical elimination of transformed cells and consequent development of invasive carcinomas.

The kinetics of guest-induced structural transition shown by flexible metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) remain poorly understood despite being crucial for process design. Here, three MOFs are studied to reveal the framework-dependent kinetic nature.

The biosynthesis of goadvionins—hybrid lipopeptide antibiotics—is not fully understood. An unusual acyltransferase, GdvG, has now been identified and shown to catalyse a condensation reaction between an acyl-carrier-protein-tethered very-long-chain fatty acid and an eight-residue ribosomally synthesized and post-translationally modified peptide. The position of functional groups in the very-long acyl chain have been determined by tandem mass spectrometry.

Autophagic activity declines with age in several tissues and is linked to aging-associated functional decline and pathologies. Here the authors show that Rubicon, a negative regulator of autophagy, decreases in adipocytes with age, and its loss leads to adipocyte dysfunction via excess autophagic degradation of SRC-1 and TIF2.

Ultrastructural analysis of nuclear membrane topology and assembling NPCs reveals how mitotic cells can rapidly establish a closed nuclear compartment while at the same time making it transport competent.