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TABLE OF CONTENTS
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| Volume 468 Number 7320 pp5-128 |
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 About the cover
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In this issue
 Editorials
World View
Research Highlights
Seven Days
News
Features
Comment
Books and Arts
Correspondence
News & Views
 Brief Communications Arising
Articles
Letters
Erratum
Corrigendum
Retraction
Naturejobs
Futures
Also this week
 Editor's summary
AOP
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 Japanese table of contents
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THE HEISER PROGRAM FOR RESEARCH IN LEPROSY AND TUBERCULOSIS
Beginning POSTDOCTORAL RESEARCH FELLOWSHIPS in leprosy and tuberculosis research available at a stipend level of $40,000 a year for two years, and RESEARCH GRANTS in leprosy in amounts up to $50,000 for one year. Click here for additional information (www.nycommunitytrust.org) |
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Super-Resolution Microscopy
Produced by Nature Methods
A collection of articles from several leaders in the field highlights the diversity of super-resolution microscopy techniques that have been developed.
Read this nature collection for FREE for a limited time:
Produced with support from: Nikon | |
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Nature Climate Change
The website is now live and Research Highlights will be posted weekly, reflecting the breadth of topics we will publish in print and online from April 2011.
The journal is also now accepting submissions through our online system, and welcomes manuscripts from both the natural and social science communities.
View the complete Guide to Authors. | |
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| EDITORIALS |
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Support refugee scientists p5
The cause of displaced scholars provides a much-needed reminder that intellectual freedom must not be taken for granted. Groups that help them need greater support themselves.
doi:10.1038/468005a
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Galileo's send-off p6
An upcoming mission to Jupiter should include a piece of the famous astronomer.
doi:10.1038/468006a
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A painful remedy p6
The number of papers being retracted is on the rise, for reasons that are not all bad.
doi:10.1038/468006b
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| WORLD VIEW |
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How to beat the media in the climate street fight p7
Researchers must take a more aggressive approach to counter shoddy journalism and set the scientific record straight, says Simon L. Lewis.
Simon L. Lewis
doi:10.1038/468007a
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| RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS |
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Zoology: Spiders lured by subterfuge p8
doi:10.1038/468008a
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Chemistry: Zinc can swim in an electric field p8
doi:10.1038/468008b
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Glaciology: Heat trickles down in ice sheets p8
doi:10.1038/468008c
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Cancer biology: Cell neighbours aid cancer relapse p8
doi:10.1038/468008d
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Ecology: Brave fish forage more p9
doi:10.1038/468009a
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Applied physics: Long-lasting memory storage p9
doi:10.1038/468009b
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Immunology: How NETs form to capture invaders p9
doi:10.1038/468009c
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Ecology: Climate controls tree growth p9
doi:10.1038/468009d
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Structural biology: A walk through the genome p9
doi:10.1038/468009e
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Genetics: The enigma of genes and environment p9
doi:10.1038/468009f
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| SEVEN DAYS |
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Seven days: 4 November 2010 p10
The week in science
doi:10.1038/468010a
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| NEWS |
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Geoengineering faces ban p13
Moratorium on schemes to reduce global warming clashes with reports urging more research.
Jeff Tollefson
doi:10.1038/468013a
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World gets 2020 vision for conservation p14
With a raft of agreements emerging from Nagoya, the next step is finding the cash to move beyond the blueprint.
Anjali Nayar
doi:10.1038/468014a
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Cosmic blasts hint at inner magnetars p15
A twist in the plot for the Universe's most powerful explosions suggests a detour en route to forming a black hole.
Eugenie Samuel Reich
doi:10.1038/468015a
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Curtain falls on collaborative work p16
End of the line for international funding agency that brought former Soviet weapons scientists in from the cold.
Geoff Brumfiel
doi:10.1038/468016a
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Researchers launch hunt for endangered data p17
Global effort will catalogue information languishing in drawers and basements.
Linda Nordling
doi:10.1038/468017a
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'Biosimilar' drugs poised to penetrate market p18
Draft regulations will pave the way for copycat antibodies and other large molecules.
Heidi Ledford
doi:10.1038/468018a
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Brazil's climate modellers are set to go global p20
Supercomputer will drive model to analyse effects of wildfire on world climate.
Jeff Tollefson
doi:10.1038/468020a
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Correction p20
doi:10.1038/468020b
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| FEATURES |
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Genomics: DNA's master craftsmen p22
Behind the walls of the J. Craig Venter Institute, Ham Smith and Clyde Hutchison quietly worked to bring a synthetic cell to life.
doi:10.1038/468022a
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Marine science: The tiniest catch p26
Marine scientists are prowling the Bering Sea to learn how climate affects minute sea creatures and the lucrative fishery that depends on them.
doi:10.1038/468026a
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| COMMENT |
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Transparency showcases strength of peer review p29
Bernd Pulverer reflects on his experience at The EMBO Journal of publishing referees' reports, authors' responses and editors' comments alongside papers, as other EMBO publications adopt the same policy.
Bernd Pulverer
doi:10.1038/468029a
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| BOOKS AND ARTS |
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Psychology: A social animal revealed p32
The inner strengths of psychologist Elliot Aronson are on display in his honest autobiography, finds W. F. Bynum.
W. F. Bynum reviews Not by Chance Alone: My Life as a Social Psychologist Elliot Aronson
doi:10.1038/468032a
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Books in brief p33
Joanne Baker
doi:10.1038/468033a
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Developmental biology: The whole nine months p34
Michael Sargent examines the evidence that pre-birth experiences shape our lives.
Michael Sargent reviews Origins: How the Nine Months Before Birth Shape the Rest of Our Lives Annie Murphy Paul
doi:10.1038/468034a
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Communication: Learning to love science films p35
Carl Zimmer comes around to the idea that science and movies can enjoy a happy union.
Carl Zimmer reviews Imagine Science Film Festival
doi:10.1038/468035a
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| CORRESPONDENCE |
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Computer code: more credit needed p37
Herman Tse
doi:10.1038/468037a
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Computer code: incentives needed p37
Konrad Hinsen
doi:10.1038/468037b
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Computer code: a model journal p37
Dan Lunt
doi:10.1038/468037c
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Reviewer disclaims competing interest p37
Daniel S. Greenberg
doi:10.1038/468037d
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More insights from Crick's lost letters p37
Robert Olby
doi:10.1038/468037e
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| NEWS & VIEWS |
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Fundamental physics: Gravity's weight on unification p40
Much research in theoretical physics is inspired at least in part by the idea of unifying all of the fundamental forces of nature. An analysis of how gravity affects other forces at subnuclear scales has major implications for that idea. See Article p.56
Giovanni Amelino-Camelia
doi:10.1038/468040a
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See also: Editor's summary | Article by Toms
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Immunology: Conditional stability of T cells p41
Data from several recent studies on the dynamics of regulatory T cells — which suppress excessive immune responses — do not add up. Collective analysis of the observations may reconcile the differences between them.
Shimon Sakaguchi
doi:10.1038/468041a
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Diabetes: Podocytes lose their footing p42
Impaired insulin action, combined with its insufficient secretion, can cause diabetes. In a surprising extension of this notion, decreased insulin action in the kidney's podocyte cells may contribute to renal complications in diabetes.
Christian Rask-Madsen and George L. King
doi:10.1038/468042a
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Cell biology: Myosin in motion p43
Deepa Nath
doi:10.1038/468043a
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See also: Editor's summary | Article by Kodera et al.
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Quantum computing: Quantum RAM p44
Hybrid quantum systems have been suggested as a potential route to building a quantum computer. The latest research shows that they offer a robust solution to developing a form of random access memory for such a machine.
Miles Blencowe
doi:10.1038/468044a
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Microbiology: Slicer for DNA p45
Many bacteria and archaea protect themselves from viruses and other invasive genomes through a genetic interference pathway. The small RNAs that guide this defence specify the direct cleavage of foreign DNA. See Article p.67
Erik J. Sontheimer and Luciano A. Marraffini
doi:10.1038/468045a
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See also: Editor's summary | Article by Garneau et al.
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Structural biology: On stress and pressure p46
The protein angiotensinogen must undergo conformational changes to be cleaved into a precursor of the hormone angiotensin, which increases blood pressure. Oxidative stress seems to mediate this structural alteration. See Letter p.108
Curt D. Sigmund
doi:10.1038/468046a
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See also: Editor's summary | Letter by Zhou et al.
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| BRIEF COMMUNICATIONS ARISING |
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Moulting tail feathers in a juvenile oviraptorisaur pE1
Richard O. Prum
doi:10.1038/nature09480
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See also: Editor's summary
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Xu et al. reply pE2
Xing Xu, Xiaoting Zheng and Hailu You
doi:10.1038/nature09481
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| ARTICLES |
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Early star-forming galaxies and the reionization of the Universe p49
Star-forming galaxies trace cosmic history. Recent observational progress has led to the discovery and study of the earliest known galaxies, corresponding to a period when the Universe was only ~800 million years old. Intense ultraviolet radiation from these early galaxies probably induced a major event in cosmic history: the reionization of intergalactic hydrogen.
Brant E. Robertson et al.
doi:10.1038/nature09527
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Quantum gravitational contributions to quantum electrodynamics p56
Within quantum electrodynamics electric charge is energy dependent, and there is a previous claim that charge is affected by gravity (general relativity) with the implication that the charge is reduced at high energies. But that claim has been very controversial. This author reports an analysis demonstrating that quantum gravity corrections to quantum electrodynamics have a quadratic energy dependence that results in the electric charge vanishing at high energies.
David J. Toms
doi:10.1038/nature09506
Abstract | Full Text | PDF
See also: Editor's summary | News & Views by Amelino-Camelia
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Genomic and functional adaptation in surface ocean planktonic prokaryotes p60
Using newly derived genome sequences of 137 marine microbial isolates as well as previously obtained genome and metagenome data, this study presents a functional analysis of picoplankton residing in the ocean's surface layer.
Shibu Yooseph et al.
doi:10.1038/nature09530
Abstract | Full Text | PDF
See also: Editor's summary
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The CRISPR/Cas bacterial immune system cleaves bacteriophage and plasmid DNA p67
CRISPR/Cas is a microbial immune system that is known to protect bacteria from virus infection. These authors show that the Streptococcus thermophilus CRISPR/Cas system can prevent both plasmid carriage and phage infection through cleavage of invading double-stranded DNA.
Josiane E. Garneau et al.
doi:10.1038/nature09523
Abstract | Full Text | PDF
See also: Editor's summary | News & Views by Sontheimer Marraffini
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Video imaging of walking myosin V by high-speed atomic force microscopy p72
High-speed atomic force microscopy can be used to record the structure and dynamics of biomolecules simultaneously. These authors use this method to directly observe the dynamics of the motor protein myosin V moving along actin filaments, with unprecedented time resolution. The high-resolution movies provide evidence supporting the 'swinging lever-arm' model of myosin motility, and provide important insights into the mechanism of motor movement.
Noriyuki Kodera, Daisuke Yamamoto, Ryoki Ishikawa and Toshio Ando
doi:10.1038/nature09450
Abstract | Full Text | PDF
See also: Editor's summary | News & Views by Nath
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| LETTERS |
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Formation of the black-hole binary M33 X-7 through mass exchange in a tight massive system p77
The X-ray source M33 X-7 hosts a rapidly spinning, 15.65M ¤ black hole orbiting an underluminous, 70M ¤ main-sequence companion in a slightly eccentric 3.45-day orbit. Hitherto, there has been no satisfactory explanation for the observed properties. These authors report simulations of evolutionary tracks which reveal that if M33 X-7 started as a primary body of 85M ¤–99M ¤ and a secondary body of 28M ¤–32M ¤, in a 2.8–3.1-day orbit, its properties can be consistently explained.
Francesca Valsecchi et al.
doi:10.1038/nature09463
First paragraph | Full Text | PDF
See also: Editor's summary
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Holographic three-dimensional telepresence using large-area photorefractive polymer p80
Holographic displays can produce truly three-dimensional (3D) images, but have so far been unable to update images fast enough. These authors have adapted a previous technique, based on holographic stereographic recording with a photorefractive polymeric material as the recording medium, to produce a quasi-real-time holographic display that can refresh its images every two seconds, and use it to demonstrate the possibility of 3D telepresence. Improvements could bring applications in telemedicine, prototyping, advertising, updatable 3D maps and entertainment.
P.-A. Blanche et al.
doi:10.1038/nature09521
First paragraph | Full Text | PDF
See also: Editor's summary
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Reversed flow of Atlantic deep water during the Last Glacial Maximum p84
The behaviour of the Atlantic meridional overturning circulation (MOC) during the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM), about 21 kyr ago, remains uncertain, with different lines of evidence arguing for either no change or a sharp reduction. These authors present an analysis of flow-sensitive protactinium and thorium isotopes from the North and South Atlantic oceans, showing that the previously contradictory results can be integrated in a new framework supporting a reversed Atlantic MOC at the LGM.
César Negre et al.
doi:10.1038/nature09508
First paragraph | Full Text | PDF
See also: Editor's summary
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Higher rates of sex evolve in spatially heterogeneous environments p89
Direct experimental tests of the conditions under which sex evolves have been rare. These authors evolve populations of a facultatively sexual rotifer in homogeneous and heterogeneous environments and show that the latter promotes sex.
Lutz Becks and Aneil F. Agrawal
doi:10.1038/nature09449
First paragraph | Full Text | PDF
See also: Editor's summary
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Antibodies to human serum amyloid P component eliminate visceral amyloid deposits p93
Systemic amyloidosis is a serious disease caused by accumulation of amyloid fibrils in the viscera and connective tissues. Serum amyloid P component (SAP) is a normal plasma protein that concentrates within the amyloid deposits. These authors find that a combination of a drug that depletes circulating SAP and an antibody that targets residual SAP within the deposits results in clearance of amyloid deposits in a mouse model of the disease.
Karl Bodin et al.
doi:10.1038/nature09494
First paragraph | Full Text | PDF
See also: Editor's summary
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Osteoclast differentiation factor RANKL controls development of progestin-driven mammary cancer p98
Progestins, used in contraceptives and hormone replacement therapy, have been linked to breast cancer. These authors provide a mechanistic basis for this association. They show in a mouse model that synthetic progestins can promote mammary tumour formation by inducing RANKL (receptor activator of NF-KB ligand), which acts on mammary epithelial cells through the RANKL receptor RANK.
Daniel Schramek et al.
doi:10.1038/nature09387
First paragraph | Full Text | PDF
See also: Editor's summary
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RANK ligand mediates progestin-induced mammary epithelial proliferation and carcinogenesis p103
Progestins, used in hormone replacement therapy and contraceptives, have been suggested to promote the development of breast cancer. These authors show that the ability of progestins to induce mammary tumours in mouse models is mediated by RANKL (receptor activator of NF-KB ligand). Inhibition of RANKL could reduce tumorigenesis in hormone-induced and other mouse mammary gland tumour models, suggesting a new therapeutic approach.
Eva Gonzalez-Suarez et al.
doi:10.1038/nature09495
First paragraph | Full Text | PDF
See also: Editor's summary
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A redox switch in angiotensinogen modulates angiotensin release p108
Angiotensins have a crucial role in blood pressure regulation and are generated by cleavage of a larger protein, angiotensinogen, by the enzyme renin. Structures of angiotensinogen alone and in complex with renin show that a large conformational change is required to expose the renin-cleavage site. The authors also show that this transition is regulated by oxidation and that women with pre-eclampsia have higher levels of the more active, oxidized, form.
Aiwu Zhou et al.
doi:10.1038/nature09505
First paragraph | Full Text | PDF
See also: Editor's summary | News & Views by Sigmund
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A methyl transferase links the circadian clock to the regulation of alternative splicing p112
Various biological processes are entrained by the day–night cycle to occur at a specific time of day. One way the circadian system exerts these effects is through post-transcriptional regulation. These authors show that a protein that transfers methyl groups onto several spliceosome subunits, PRMT5, is regulated by the light–dark cycle. Methylation of these subunits affects alternative splicing of some genes, thus making them subject to circadian control.
Sabrina E. Sanchez et al.
doi:10.1038/nature09470
First paragraph | Full Text | PDF
See also: Editor's summary
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Identification of UBIAD1 as a novel human menaquinone-4 biosynthetic enzyme p117
These authors identify the human enzyme responsible for menaquinone-4 biosynthesis, a naturally occurring form of vitamin K. They find that UbiA prenyltransferase containing 1, a human homologue of a prenyltransferase gene from Escherichia coli, encodes an enzyme that can convert vitamin K derivatives into menaquinone-4.
Kimie Nakagawa et al.
doi:10.1038/nature09464
First paragraph | Full Text | PDF
See also: Editor's summary
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| ERRATUM |
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eIF5 has GDI activity necessary for translational control by eIF2 phosphorylation p122
Martin D. Jennings and Graham D. Pavitt
doi:10.1038/nature09550
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| CORRIGENDUM |
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Ecoenzymatic stoichiometry of microbial organic nutrient acquisition in soil and sediment p122
Robert L. Sinsabaugh, Brian H. Hill and Jennifer J. Follstad Shah
doi:10.1038/nature09548
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| RETRACTION |
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The large-conductance Ca2+-activated K+ channel is essential for innate immunity p122
Jatinder Ahluwalia et al.
doi:10.1038/nature09562
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| NATUREJOBS |
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Feature
Academia: The changing face of tenure p123
Although still highly desirable, tenure is not as prevalent as it was in some places — and that may not be a bad thing.
Karen Kaplan
doi:10.1038/nj7320-123a
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Career Briefs
PhD improvements p125
European body calls for reform of doctoral research programmes.
doi:10.1038/nj7320-125a
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Career Briefs
Transcending disability p125
Purdue provides lab environment for those with disabilities.
doi:10.1038/nj7320-125b
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Career Briefs
Progress on pensions p125
Europe focuses on portable pension scheme.
doi:10.1038/nj7320-125c
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By the Numbers
Switzerland p126
Switzerland's universities and biotech and pharma prowess make it an attractive destination for researcher talent.
Katharine Sanderson
doi:10.1038/nj7320-126a
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Q&As
Ralph Eichler p126
Ralph Eichler, ETH Zurich's head, explains Switzerland's appeal to researchers.
Katharine Sanderson
doi:10.1038/nj7320-126b
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| FUTURES |
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Bush meat p128
A slick operation.
Paul Renault
doi:10.1038/468128a
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| ADVANCE ONLINE PUBLICATION |
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| 03 November 2010 |
The amino-terminal disease hotspot of ryanodine receptors forms a cytoplasmic vestibule
Ching-Chieh Tung, Paolo A. Lobo, Lynn Kimlicka and Filip Van Petegem
doi:10.1038/nature09471
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Reducing excessive GABA-mediated tonic inhibition promotes functional recovery after stroke
Andrew N. Clarkson et al.
doi:10.1038/nature09511
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Sequential faulting explains the asymmetry and extension discrepancy of conjugate margins
César R. Ranero and Marta Pérez-Gussinyé
doi:10.1038/nature09520
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Integrating carbon–halogen bond formation into medicinal plant metabolism
Weerawat Runguphan, Xudong Qu and Sarah E. O’Connor
doi:10.1038/nature09524
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Design, function and structure of a monomeric ClC transporter
Janice L. Robertson, Ludmila Kolmakova-Partensky and Christopher Miller
doi:10.1038/nature09556
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| 31 October 2010 |
The structural basis for membrane binding and pore formation by lymphocyte perforin
Ruby H. P. Law et al.
doi:10.1038/nature09518
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Nature Physics celebrates its fifth anniversary
Nature Physics publishes significant papers in both the new ‘hot’ areas and in more developed areas of physics. To mark our fifth anniversary, we’ve put together a selection of the articles − comment, review and research papers − that we’ve published over the last five years, reflecting ‘hot topics’ in particular and including some editorial favourites.
Click here to have a look. | |
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Find the latest scientific conferences, courses, meetings and symposia on natureevents.com. For event advertising opportunities across the Nature Publishing Group portfolio please contact natureevents@nature.com |
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