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Nature contents_ 18 October 2012
[2012-10-18]
 
 
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  Volume 490 Number 7420   
 

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 News & Comment    Biological Sciences    Chemical Sciences
 
 Physical Sciences    Earth & Environmental Sciences    Careers & Jobs
 
 
 

This week's highlights

 
 

Special: The new map of science

 
 

Today more nations – from China and India to Singapore, Brazil and South Korea – are taking their place at the high table of research alongside the traditional science superpowers. At the same time national boundaries are being transcended through collaboration networks and 'brain circulation'. In this special issue Nature examines how the movement of people and ideas will change how science is done, how it is funded and the questions that it addresses.

more

 
 
 

Earth & Environmental Sciences

More Earth & Environmental sciences
 
Zinc supports giant impact theory of Moon formation
 

High-precision measurements of zinc isotope content in lunar basalt samples reveal that lunar magmatic rocks are enriched in the heavy isotopes of zinc and have lower zinc concentrations than terrestrial or Martian samples. This points to an episode of zinc evapouration on a massive scale, which favours the theory that the Earth–Moon system is the result of a giant impact between the proto-Earth and a passing Mars-sized object.

 
 
 

Earth & Environmental Sciences

More Earth & Environmental sciences
 
Coastal eutrophication as a driver of salt marsh loss
 

Salt marshes are important features of the coastal ecosystem as they provide storm protection for coastal communities and nutrient removal that is thought to protect costal bays. But they are in decline, and nine years of data from a whole ecosystem nutrient enrichment experiment shows why. Nutrient loading is increases the productivity of plants but reducing the density of bank-stabilizing roots. This, together with increased breakdown of organic matter, is reducimg salt marsh stability, causing it to slip into the sea.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 

The New BD FACSJazz™ Cell Sorter

Perfectly tuned cell sorting is now available with the new BD FACSJazz. Built on a proven, dependable platform, it may change the way you'll think of cell sorting with ease of operation, affordability, and a benchtop fit. Exceedingly capable performance whether as a soloist or part of your core lab ensemble. bdbiosciences.com/jazz

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Physical Sciences

More Physical sciences
 
Severe stress switches CRF action in the nucleus accumbens from appetitive to aversive
 

Severe stress can exacerbate major depression, characterized by a shift from engagement with the environment to withdrawal. This study in mice shows that corticotrophin releasing factor, which is released in response to stress, normally increases dopamine release in the nucleus accumbens — a region in the brain thought to mediate punishment and reward. But when the animals are exposed to severe stress, CRF regulation of dopamine is lost and the animals become averse to CRF, having previously found it rewarding. The authors suggest that severe stress switches the emotional response to stressful stimuli, and that this may be central to stress-induced depressive disorders.

 
 
 

Podcast & Video

 
 

In this week's podcast: a new planet orbiting the star next door, how biology sprung from chemistry on the early Earth, and the evolution of teeth and jaws. Plus, scientists' movements around the globe and the best of science outside Nature.

 
 
 
 
 
Special - The new map of science top
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Editorial

 
     
 
 
 
 
 

Global reach ▶

 
 

The increasing internationalization of science offers many benefits, but also has limitations.

 
 
 
 
 
 

Features

 
     
 
 
 
 
 

Global mobility: Science on the move ▶

 
 

The big picture of global migration shows that scientists usually follow the research money — but culture can skew this pattern.

 
 
 
 
 
 

Comment

 
     
 
 
 
 
 

Research policy: How to build science capacity ▶

 
 

Eight leaders propose ways to boost research in their countries in the next decade.

 
 
 
 
 
 

Collaborations: The rise of research networks ▶

 
 

New collaboration patterns are changing the global balance of science. Established superpowers need to keep up or be left behind, says Jonathan Adams.

 
 
 
 
 
 

Research funding: Global challenges need global solutions ▶

 
 

Subra Suresh sets out the institutional reforms needed for collaborative action among international research-funding agencies to tackle the challenges humanity faces.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
News & Comment Read daily news coverage top
 
 
 
 
 
 

THIS WEEK

 
 
 
 
 

Editorials

 
     
 
 
 
 
 

Life after death ▶

 
 

Restricting access to US death records could have serious consequences for long-term health studies. Government agencies should rethink their decision.

 
 
 
 
 
 

Badger away ▶

 
 

Charges that the UK badger-shooting policy ignores evidence are wide of the mark.

 
 
 
 
 
 

World View

 
     
 
 
 
 
 

The secrets of my prizewinning research ▶

 
 

Serge Haroche, co-winner of the 2012 Nobel Prize in Physics, warns against the growing trend towards short-termism in science funding.

 
 
 
 
 
 

Seven Days

 
     
 
 
 
 
 

Seven days: 12–18 October 2012 ▶

 
 

The week in science: Skydiver breaks speed of sound; researcher ID system launches; and the online open-access journal eLife publishes its first papers.

 
 
 
 
 

NEWS IN FOCUS

 
 
 
 
 

Badger battle erupts in England ▶

 
 

Cull plan splits farmers, conservationists — and scientists.

 
 
 
 
 
 

Politics holds back animal engineers ▶

 
 

Funds and approvals lag for transgenic livestock in US.

 
 
 
 
 
 

Nobel work boosts drug development ▶

 
 

Chemistry prize honours studies of cell-receptor proteins.

 
 
 
 
 
 

Stem-cell fraud hits febrile field ▶

 
 

After heart-treatment claims collapse, researchers caution against a rush to the clinic.

 
 
 
 
 
 

Drug firm to share raw trial data ▶

 
 

Full disclosure could improve health care and restore trust.

 
 
 
 
 
 

The exoplanet next door ▶

 
 

Earth-sized world discovered in nearby α Centauri star system.

 
 
 
 
 
 

Antarctic seas in the balance ▶

 
 

Plans to protect swathes of ocean face tough test.

 
 
 
 
 
 

Features

 
     
 
 
 
 
 

Global mobility: Science mapped out ▶

 
 

In a special issue, Nature examines the changing global landscape of research.

 
 
 
 
 

COMMENT

 
 
 
 
 

Books and Arts

 
     
 
 
 
 
 

Biophysics: Tales from the canopy ▶

 
 

Sandra Knapp considers how the laws of physics influence the function of leaves in myriad ways.

 
 
 
 
 
 

Zoology: The animal inside ▶

 
 

Josie Glausiusz contemplates a documentary on the human relationship with animals confined and stuffed.

 
 
 
 
 
 

Books in brief ▶

 
 
 
 
 
 

Correspondence

 
     
 
 
 
 
 

Conservation: Citizens add to satellite forest maps Marijn van der Velde, Linda See & Steffen Fritz | Lab assets: Database for sharing costly equipment Luke Georghiou | Impact factors: Cash puts publishing ethics at risk in China Sarah Huggett | Industry: Rural factories won't fix Chinese pollution Hong Yang, Roger J. Flower & Julian R. Thompson | Metrics: a long-term threat to society Malgorzata Blicharska & Grzegorz Mikusinski | Metrics: a fetish for high-profile journals Ronald Rousseau & Xiaojun Hu | Metrics: allow more gradual progress Pedro Cintas | Data management: Librarians or science informationists? Ludmila Pollock | Technology: Clean stoves benefit climate and health Susan Anenberg

 
 
 
 
 

Correction

 
     
 
 
 
 
 

Corrections ▶

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 

EMBO Courses & Workshops 2013
More than 80 conferences, workshops, symposia, practical courses & lecture courses announced. Subscribe to our e-news to receive reminders of registration & abstract submission deadlines. events.embo.org

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Biological Sciences top
 
 
 
 
 
 

RESEARCH

 
 
 
 
 

Latest Online

 
     
 
 
 
 
 

Origins of life: The cooperative gene ▶

 
 

James Attwater, Philipp Holliger

 
 
 
 
 
 

IL-22BP is regulated by the inflammasome and modulates tumorigenesis in the intestine ▶

 
 

Samuel Huber, Nicola Gagliani, Lauren A. Zenewicz, Francis J. Huber, Lidia Bosurgi et al.

 
 

IL-22 is one of the factors that, although important for wound healing, also promote tumorigenesis; the regulation of IL-22BP, the IL-22 binding protein, via the NLRP3 and NLRP6 inflammasomes provides an unanticipated mechanism, controlling IL-22 and thereby the development of colon cancer.

 
 
 
 
 
 

Development of teeth and jaws in the earliest jawed vertebrates ▶

 
 

Martin Rücklin, Philip C. J. Donoghue, Zerina Johanson, Kate Trinajstic, Federica Marone et al.

 
 

Synchrotron radiation X-ray tomographic microscopy of a developmental series of Compagopiscis croucheri (Arthrodira) indicate that placoderms had true teeth, but that tooth and jaw development was not developmentally or structurally integrated in placoderms.

 
 
 
 
 
 

A soybean cyst nematode resistance gene points to a new mechanism of plant resistance to pathogens ▶

 
 

Shiming Liu, Pramod K. Kandoth, Samantha D. Warren, Greg Yeckel, Robert Heinz et al.

 
 

This study reports the identification of the first soybean gene that has a role in resistance to soybean cyst nematode; this finding should help to improve crop resistance to nematodes.

 
 
 
 
 
 

Input-specific control of reward and aversion in the ventral tegmental area ▶

 
 

Stephan Lammel, Byung Kook Lim, Chen Ran, Kee Wui Huang, Michael J. Betley et al.

 
 

Through the use of a combination of state-of-the-art techniques, different populations of ventral tegmental area dopamine neurons in the mouse are shown to form separate circuits with distinct connectivity: neurons receiving input from the laterodorsal tegmentum and lateral habenula are found to mediate reward and aversion, respectively.

 
 
 
 
 
 

Regulatory B cells control T-cell autoimmunity through IL-21-dependent cognate interactions ▶

 
 

Ayumi Yoshizaki, Tomomitsu Miyagaki, David J. DiLillo, Takashi Matsushita, Mayuka Horikawa et al.

 
 

IL-21- and CD40-dependent cognate interactions with T cells are identified as key drivers for the generation of IL-10-producing regulatory B cells, which can protect against autoimmune disease.

 
 
 
 
 
 

The structural biochemistry of Zucchini implicates it as a nuclease in piRNA biogenesis ▶

 
 

Jonathan J. Ipsaro, Astrid D. Haase, Simon R. Knott, Leemor Joshua-Tor & Gregory J. Hannon

 
 

piRNAs act to protect the genome from the damaging effect of unrestrained expression of mobile elements; here it is suggested that the phosphodiesterase Zucchini may be the nuclease that generates the 5′ ends of primary piRNAs.

 
 
 
 
 
 

Long non-coding antisense RNA controls Uchl1 translation through an embedded SINEB2 repeat ▶

 
 

Claudia Carrieri, Laura Cimatti, Marta Biagioli, Anne Beugnet, Silvia Zucchelli et al.

 
 

Antisense Uchl1, a long non-coding RNA that is an antisense transcript for the Uchl1 gene, upregulates UCHL1 protein levels through the combined action of an overlapping sequence at its 5′ end and an embedded SINEB2 element.

 
 
 
 
 
 

Structure and function of Zucchini endoribonuclease in piRNA biogenesis ▶

 
 

Hiroshi Nishimasu, Hirotsugu Ishizu, Kuniaki Saito, Satoshi Fukuhara, Miharu K. Kamatani et al.

 
 

Zucchini has been identified as an endoribonuclease responsible for the maturation of small RNA molecules that protect the genome from the damaging effects of unrestrained expression of mobile elements.

 
 
 
 
 
 

Epistasis as the primary factor in molecular evolution ▶

 
 

Michael S. Breen, Carsten Kemena, Peter K. Vlasov, Cedric Notredame & Fyodor A. Kondrashov

 
 

A comparison of more than 1,000 orthologues of diverse proteins shows that the rate of amino-acid substitution in recent evolution is an order of magnitude lower than that expected in the absence of epistasis, indicating that epistasis is pervasive throughout protein evolution.

 
 
 
 
 
 

Serine is a natural ligand and allosteric activator of pyruvate kinase M2 ▶

 
 

Barbara Chaneton, Petra Hillmann, Liang Zheng, Agnès C. L. Martin, Oliver D. K. Maddocks et al.

 
 

The M2 isoform of pyruvate kinase (PKM2) is a key glycolytic enzyme that is overexpressed in cancer cells; here, serine is shown to bind to and directly activate PKM2, and the resulting reduction in enzyme activity under serine-deprivation conditions is shown to lead to the diversion of glucose-derived carbon to promote serine biosynthesis required for cell proliferation.

 
 
 
 
 
 

B12 cofactors directly stabilize an mRNA regulatory switch ▶

 
 

James E. Johnson Jr, Francis E. Reyes, Jacob T. Polaski & Robert T. Batey

 
 

The crystal structures of two different cobalamin (vitamin B12)-binding riboswitches are determined; the structures reveal how cobalamin facilitates interdomain interactions to regulate gene expression.

 
 
 
 
 
 

Articles and Letters

 
     
 
 
 
 
 

The aged niche disrupts muscle stem cell quiescence ▶

 
 

Joe V. Chakkalakal, Kieran M. Jones, M. Albert Basson & Andrew S. Brack

 
 

The expression of fibroblast growth factor in aged muscle fibre, the muscle stem cell niche, is shown to cause satellite cells to lose the capacity for self-renewal, and is thus an age-dependent change that directly influences stem cell quiescence and function.

 
 
 
 
 
 

Crystal structure of a bacterial homologue of glucose transporters GLUT1–4 ▶

 
 

Linfeng Sun, Xin Zeng, Chuangye Yan, Xiuyun Sun, Xinqi Gong et al.

 
 

A study of X-ray crystal structures of the Escherichia coli xylose transporter XylE, which is a bacterial homologue of the human glucose transporters GLUT1–4, complexed with glucose and its analogues yields a framework for understanding the molecular mechanism by which membrane proteins transport glucose and other sugars across cell membranes.

 
 
 
 
 
 

Structure of AMP-PNP-bound vitamin B12 transporter BtuCD–F ▶

 
 

Vladimir M. Korkhov, Samantha A. Mireku & Kaspar P. Locher

 
 

The X-ray crystal structure of the transporter-binding protein complex BtuCD–F, involved in the uptake of vitamin B12 across the inner membrane of Escherichia coli, is determined in an ATP analogue-bound state; the membrane-spanning BtuC subunits adopt a previously unseen conformation in which the central translocation pathway is sealed by an additional gate, and membrane transport is seen to occur through an unexpected peristaltic transport mechanism, distinct from what has been observed for other ABC transporters.

 
 
 
 
 
 

Coastal eutrophication as a driver of salt marsh loss ▶

 
 

Linda A. Deegan, David Samuel Johnson, R. Scott Warren, Bruce J. Peterson, John W. Fleeger et al.

 
 

A nine-year whole-ecosystem experiment demonstrates that nutrient enrichment, a global problem in coastal ecosystems, can be a driver of salt-marsh loss.

 
 
 
 
 
 

Nonlinear dendritic processing determines angular tuning of barrel cortex neurons in vivo ▶

 
 

Maria Lavzin, Sophia Rapoport, Alon Polsky, Liora Garion & Jackie Schiller

 
 

In vivo whole-cell recordings combined with an intracellular N-methyl-ᴅ-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) blocker and membrane hyperpolarization are used to examine the contribution of dendritic NMDAR-dependent regenerative responses to the angular tuning of layer 4 neurons; the results show that active dendritic processing sharpens the sensory responses of cortical neurons in vivo.

 
 
 
 
 
 

Severe stress switches CRF action in the nucleus accumbens from appetitive to aversive ▶

 
 

Julia C. Lemos, Matthew J. Wanat, Jeffrey S. Smith, Beverly A. S. Reyes, Nick G. Hollon et al.

 
 

The neuropeptide corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) acts in the nucleus accumbens of mice to increase dopamine release through coactivation of CRF receptor 1 (CRFR1) and CRFR2, but exposure to severe stress results in loss of this regulation and a switch in the reaction to CRF from appetitive to aversive.

 
 
 
 
 
 

Androgenetic haploid embryonic stem cells produce live transgenic mice ▶

 
 

Wei Li, Ling Shuai, Haifeng Wan, Mingzhu Dong, Meng Wang et al.

 
 

Mouse androgenetic haploid embryonic stem cell lines can be established by transferring sperm into an enucleated oocyte; the cells maintain haploidy and stable growth over 30 passages, express pluripotent markers, are able to differentiate into all three germ layers, contribute to germlines of chimaeras when injected into blastocysts and can produce fertile progeny that carry genetic modifications to the next generation.

 
 
 
 
 
 

Melanomas resist T-cell therapy through inflammation-induced reversible dedifferentiation ▶

 
 

Jennifer Landsberg, Judith Kohlmeyer, Marcel Renn, Tobias Bald, Meri Rogava et al.

 
 

A genetically engineered mouse model is used to determine the mechanism of acquired resistance to adoptive therapy with cytotoxic T cells specific for a melanocytic differentiation antigen; tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α is identified as a crucial factor that causes reversible dedifferentiation of mouse and human melanoma cells.

 
 
 
 
 
 

Increased HIV-1 vaccine efficacy against viruses with genetic signatures in Env V2 ▶

 
 

Morgane Rolland, Paul T. Edlefsen, Brendan B. Larsen, Sodsai Tovanabutra, Eric Sanders-Buell et al.

 
 

Genetic analysis of breakthrough infections in people vaccinated against HIV-1 show that vaccine efficacy increased by up to 80% against viruses carrying two mutations in Env V2, but also raises the possibility of population-level adaptation to the vaccine.

 
 
 
 
 
 

A FOXO3–IRF7 gene regulatory circuit limits inflammatory sequelae of antiviral responses ▶

 
 

Vladimir Litvak, Alexander V. Ratushny, Aaron E. Lampano, Frank Schmitz, Albert C. Huang et al.

 
 

FOXO3 is a negative regulator of IRF7, a master regulator of the antiviral response.

 
 
 
 
 
 

Targeting VEGF-B as a novel treatment for insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes ▶

 
 

Carolina E. Hagberg, Annika Mehlem, Annelie Falkevall, Lars Muhl, Barbara C. Fam et al.

 
 

Inhibition of VEGF-B signalling is shown to limit ectopic fatty-acid accumulation, restore peripheral insulin sensitivity and muscle glucose uptake, and preserve pancreatic islet functionality.

 
 
 
 
 
 

Initiation of transcription-coupled repair characterized at single-molecule resolution ▶

 
 

Kévin Howan, Abigail J. Smith, Lars F. Westblade, Nicolas Joly, Wilfried Grange et al.

 
 

The early stages of transcription-coupled DNA repair are observed at single-molecule resolution; the Escherichia coli DNA translocase molecule Mfd is shown to promote RNA polymerase dissociation by catalysing two irreversible, ATP-dependent transitions.

 
 
 
 
 
 

News & Views

 
     
 
 
 
 
 

Cancer therapy: Tumours switch to resist ▶

 
 

Antoni Ribas & Paul C. Tumeh

 
 
 
 
 
 

Structural biology: Bundles of insights into sugar transporters ▶

 
 

Peter J. F. Henderson & Stephen A. Baldwin

 
 
 
 
 
 

50 & 100 years ago ▶

 
 
 
 
 
 

HIV: Design by trial ▶

 
 

David V. Glidden

 
 
 
 
 
 

Molecular biology: Choose your protein partners ▶

 
 

Rahul S. Samant & Paul Workman

 
 
 
 
 
 

Ecology: The big picture of marsh loss ▶

 
 

Steven C. Pennings

 
 
 
 
 
 

Origins of life: The cooperative gene ▶

 
 

James Attwater, Philipp Holliger

 
 
 
 
 
 

Research Highlights

 
     
 
 
 
 
 

Zoology: Tool use takes more than brains | Cancer: Fat helps tumours to grow | Cell therapy: Stem cells wrap neurons | Archaeology: Remains of the moa | Evolution: Humble arthropod beginnings

 
 
 
 

NEWS & COMMENT

 
 
 
 
 

Life after death | Badger away | Badger battle erupts in England | Politics holds back animal engineers | Stem-cell fraud hits febrile field | Drug firm to share raw trial data | Antarctic seas in the balance | Biophysics: Tales from the canopy | Zoology: The animal inside | Books in brief | Metrics: a fetish for high-profile journals Ronald Rousseau & Xiaojun Hu

 
 
 
 
 

CAREERS

 
 
 
 
 

Turning point: Craig Bennett

 
 
 
 
 
 

More Biological Sciences ▶

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Scientific Reports publishes 457 open access papers in its first year

Publishing technically sound research articles, Scientific Reports is Nature Publishing Group’s fastest growing journal. Given the speed and visibility offered, no wonder 93% of our authors said that they are “likely” or “very likely” to submit again.

Keep your research moving. Submit to Scientific Reports

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Chemical Sciences top
 
 
 
 
 
 

RESEARCH

 
 
 
 
 

Latest Online

 
     
 
 
 
 
 

Origins of life: The cooperative gene ▶

 
 

James Attwater, Philipp Holliger

 
 
 
 
 
 

The structural biochemistry of Zucchini implicates it as a nuclease in piRNA biogenesis ▶

 
 

Jonathan J. Ipsaro, Astrid D. Haase, Simon R. Knott, Leemor Joshua-Tor & Gregory J. Hannon

 
 

piRNAs act to protect the genome from the damaging effect of unrestrained expression of mobile elements; here it is suggested that the phosphodiesterase Zucchini may be the nuclease that generates the 5′ ends of primary piRNAs.

 
 
 
 
 
 

Structure and function of Zucchini endoribonuclease in piRNA biogenesis ▶

 
 

Hiroshi Nishimasu, Hirotsugu Ishizu, Kuniaki Saito, Satoshi Fukuhara, Miharu K. Kamatani et al.

 
 

Zucchini has been identified as an endoribonuclease responsible for the maturation of small RNA molecules that protect the genome from the damaging effects of unrestrained expression of mobile elements.

 
 
 
 
 
 

Serine is a natural ligand and allosteric activator of pyruvate kinase M2 ▶

 
 

Barbara Chaneton, Petra Hillmann, Liang Zheng, Agnès C. L. Martin, Oliver D. K. Maddocks et al.

 
 

The M2 isoform of pyruvate kinase (PKM2) is a key glycolytic enzyme that is overexpressed in cancer cells; here, serine is shown to bind to and directly activate PKM2, and the resulting reduction in enzyme activity under serine-deprivation conditions is shown to lead to the diversion of glucose-derived carbon to promote serine biosynthesis required for cell proliferation.

 
 
 
 
 
 

B12 cofactors directly stabilize an mRNA regulatory switch ▶

 
 

James E. Johnson Jr, Francis E. Reyes, Jacob T. Polaski & Robert T. Batey

 
 

The crystal structures of two different cobalamin (vitamin B12)-binding riboswitches are determined; the structures reveal how cobalamin facilitates interdomain interactions to regulate gene expression.

 
 
 
 
 
 

Articles and Letters

 
     
 
 
 
 
 

Crystal structure of a bacterial homologue of glucose transporters GLUT1–4 ▶

 
 

Linfeng Sun, Xin Zeng, Chuangye Yan, Xiuyun Sun, Xinqi Gong et al.

 
 

A study of X-ray crystal structures of the Escherichia coli xylose transporter XylE, which is a bacterial homologue of the human glucose transporters GLUT1–4, complexed with glucose and its analogues yields a framework for understanding the molecular mechanism by which membrane proteins transport glucose and other sugars across cell membranes.

 
 
 
 
 
 

Structure of AMP-PNP-bound vitamin B12 transporter BtuCD–F ▶

 
 

Vladimir M. Korkhov, Samantha A. Mireku & Kaspar P. Locher

 
 

The X-ray crystal structure of the transporter-binding protein complex BtuCD–F, involved in the uptake of vitamin B12 across the inner membrane of Escherichia coli, is determined in an ATP analogue-bound state; the membrane-spanning BtuC subunits adopt a previously unseen conformation in which the central translocation pathway is sealed by an additional gate, and membrane transport is seen to occur through an unexpected peristaltic transport mechanism, distinct from what has been observed for other ABC transporters.

 
 
 
 
 
 

Targeting VEGF-B as a novel treatment for insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes ▶

 
 

Carolina E. Hagberg, Annika Mehlem, Annelie Falkevall, Lars Muhl, Barbara C. Fam et al.

 
 

Inhibition of VEGF-B signalling is shown to limit ectopic fatty-acid accumulation, restore peripheral insulin sensitivity and muscle glucose uptake, and preserve pancreatic islet functionality.

 
 
 
 
 
 

Initiation of transcription-coupled repair characterized at single-molecule resolution ▶

 
 

Kévin Howan, Abigail J. Smith, Lars F. Westblade, Nicolas Joly, Wilfried Grange et al.

 
 

The early stages of transcription-coupled DNA repair are observed at single-molecule resolution; the Escherichia coli DNA translocase molecule Mfd is shown to promote RNA polymerase dissociation by catalysing two irreversible, ATP-dependent transitions.

 
 
 
 
 
 

News & Views

 
     
 
 
 
 
 

Structural biology: Bundles of insights into sugar transporters ▶

 
 

Peter J. F. Henderson & Stephen A. Baldwin

 
 
 
 
 
 

Molecular biology: Choose your protein partners ▶

 
 

Rahul S. Samant & Paul Workman

 
 
 
 
 
 

Origins of life: The cooperative gene ▶

 
 

James Attwater, Philipp Holliger

 
 
 
 
 
 

More Chemical Sciences ▶

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Physical Sciences top
 
 
 
 
 
 

RESEARCH

 
 
 
 
 

Latest Online

 
     
 
 
 
 
 

Origins of life: The cooperative gene ▶

 
 

James Attwater, Philipp Holliger

 
 
 
 
 
 

Astronomy: Meet our closest neighbour ▶

 
 

Artie P. Hatzes

 
 
 
 
 
 

An Earth-mass planet orbiting α Centauri B ▶

 
 

Xavier Dumusque, Francesco Pepe, Christophe Lovis, Damien Ségransan, Johannes Sahlmann et al.

 
 

The detection of an Earth-mass planet orbiting our neighbour star α Centauri B is reported; the planet has an orbital period of 3.236 days and is about 0.04 astronomical units from the star.

 
 
 
 
 
 

Epistasis as the primary factor in molecular evolution ▶

 
 

Michael S. Breen, Carsten Kemena, Peter K. Vlasov, Cedric Notredame & Fyodor A. Kondrashov

 
 

A comparison of more than 1,000 orthologues of diverse proteins shows that the rate of amino-acid substitution in recent evolution is an order of magnitude lower than that expected in the absence of epistasis, indicating that epistasis is pervasive throughout protein evolution.

 
 
 
 
 
 

Articles and Letters

 
     
 
 
 
 
 

Hard-X-ray emission lines from the decay of 44Ti in the remnant of supernova 1987A ▶

 
 

S. A. Grebenev, A. A. Lutovinov, S. S. Tsygankov & C. Winkler

 
 

Observations of hard X-rays from the remnant of supernova 1987A in the narrow band containing two direct-escape lines of 44Ti at 67.9 and 78.4 keV imply that this radiation had sufficient energy to power the remnant at late times; the initial mass of 44Ti is estimated to be near the upper bound of theoretical predictions.

 
 
 
 
 
 

Circuit quantum electrodynamics with a spin qubit ▶

 
 

K. D. Petersson, L. W. McFaul, M. D. Schroer, M. Jung, J. M. Taylor et al.

 
 

Coupling a superconducting cavity to an indium arsenide double quantum dot with a charge–cavity coupling rate of 30 megahertz shows that long-range spin qubit interactions may be feasible.

 
 
 
 
 
 

Bonding and structure of a reconstructed (001) surface of SrTiO3 from TEM ▶

 
 

Guo-zhen Zhu, Guillaume Radtke & Gianluigi A. Botton

 
 

A simple and accessible method of probing the nature of bonding on the very surface of a material is reported, using transmission electron microscopy: the technologically important compound strontium titanate is examined as an example.

 
 
 
 
 
 

Delayed build-up of Arctic ice sheets during 400,000-year minima in insolation variability ▶

 
 

Qingzhen Hao, Luo Wang, Frank Oldfield, Shuzhen Peng, Li Qin et al.

 
 

An East Asian winter monsoon proxy record using grain size variations in Chinese loess over the past 900,000 years shows that for up to 20,000 years after the interglacials at 400,000-year intervals, the weak monsoon winds maintain a mild, non-glacial climate at high northern latitudes.

 
 
 
 
 
 

News & Views

 
     
 
 
 
 
 

Origins of life: The cooperative gene ▶

 
 

James Attwater, Philipp Holliger

 
 
 
 
 
 

Astronomy: Meet our closest neighbour ▶

 
 

Artie P. Hatzes

 
 
 
 
 
 

Research Highlights

 
     
 
 
 
 
 

Optics: Nanorod shades soak up the rays | Materials: Drawing a sensor on paper

 
 
 
 

NEWS & COMMENT

 
 
 
 
 

The exoplanet next door | Technology: Clean stoves benefit climate and health Susan Anenberg

 
 
 
 
 
 

More Physical Sciences ▶

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Earth & Environmental Sciences top
 
 
 
 
 
 

RESEARCH

 
 
 
 
 

Latest Online

 
     
 
 
 
 
 

Astronomy: Meet our closest neighbour ▶

 
 

Artie P. Hatzes

 
 
 
 
 
 

An Earth-mass planet orbiting α Centauri B ▶

 
 

Xavier Dumusque, Francesco Pepe, Christophe Lovis, Damien Ségransan, Johannes Sahlmann et al.

 
 

The detection of an Earth-mass planet orbiting our neighbour star α Centauri B is reported; the planet has an orbital period of 3.236 days and is about 0.04 astronomical units from the star.

 
 
 
 
 
 

Articles and Letters

 
     
 
 
 
 
 

Zinc isotopic evidence for the origin of the Moon ▶

 
 

Randal C. Paniello, James M. D. Day & Frédéric Moynier

 
 

Lunar magmatic rocks are shown to be enriched in the heavy isotopes of zinc and to have lower zinc concentrations than terrestrial or Martian igneous rocks; these variations represent the large-scale evaporation of zinc, most probably in the aftermath of the Moon-forming giant impact event.

 
 
 
 
 
 

Coastal eutrophication as a driver of salt marsh loss ▶

 
 

Linda A. Deegan, David Samuel Johnson, R. Scott Warren, Bruce J. Peterson, John W. Fleeger et al.

 
 

A nine-year whole-ecosystem experiment demonstrates that nutrient enrichment, a global problem in coastal ecosystems, can be a driver of salt-marsh loss.

 
 
 
 
 
 

Delayed build-up of Arctic ice sheets during 400,000-year minima in insolation variability ▶

 
 

Qingzhen Hao, Luo Wang, Frank Oldfield, Shuzhen Peng, Li Qin et al.

 
 

An East Asian winter monsoon proxy record using grain size variations in Chinese loess over the past 900,000 years shows that for up to 20,000 years after the interglacials at 400,000-year intervals, the weak monsoon winds maintain a mild, non-glacial climate at high northern latitudes.

 
 
 
 
 
 

News & Views

 
     
 
 
 
 
 

Planetary science: Galvanized lunacy ▶

 
 

Tim Elliott

 
 
 
 
 
 

Ecology: The big picture of marsh loss ▶

 
 

Steven C. Pennings

 
 
 
 
 
 

Astronomy: Meet our closest neighbour ▶

 
 

Artie P. Hatzes

 
 
 
 
 
 

Research Highlights

 
     
 
 
 
 
 

Planetary science: Signs of asteroid magnetic field | Geophysics: La Niña made the oceans fall

 
 
 
 

NEWS & COMMENT

 
 
 
 
 

Antarctic seas in the balance | Conservation: Citizens add to satellite forest maps Marijn van der Velde, Linda See & Steffen Fritz | Industry: Rural factories won't fix Chinese pollution Hong Yang, Roger J. Flower & Julian R. Thompson | Technology: Clean stoves benefit climate and health Susan Anenberg

 
 
 
 
 
 

More Earth & Environmental Sciences ▶

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 

Nurture your career with the new-look Naturejobs
As the world's largest dedicated jobs boards for the scientific community, Naturejobs is the ideal resource to build your career.

Our new and improved functionality enables you to search, save and apply for jobs quickly and easily. Search over 10,000 vacancies to find exactly the right job for you at: www.naturejobs.com

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Careers & Jobs top
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Innovation: Brushing up on business ▶

 
 

Entrepreneurship training can open up new avenues for scientists. And it doesn't take a business degree.

 
 
 
     
 
 
 

Turning point: Craig Bennett ▶

 
 

A neuroscientist's fishy discovery earns him an Ig Nobel Prize and helps to improve data interpretation.

 
 
 
     
 
 
 

Careers related news & comment

 
     
 
 
 
 
 

Global reach | Politics holds back animal engineers | Global mobility: Science mapped out | Global mobility: Science on the move | Research policy: How to build science capacity | Collaborations: The rise of research networks | Research funding: Global challenges need global solutions | Lab assets: Database for sharing costly equipment Luke Georghiou | Metrics: a long-term threat to society Malgorzata Blicharska & Grzegorz Mikusinski | Metrics: a fetish for high-profile journals Ronald Rousseau & Xiaojun Hu | Metrics: allow more gradual progress Pedro Cintas | Data management: Librarians or science informationists? Ludmila Pollock

 
 
 
 
 
 

naturejobs.com

naturejobs.com Science jobs of the week

 
 
 

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University of Glasgow 

 
 
 
 
 

Research Associate in Statistical Genetics of Infectious Diseases

 
 

University College London (UCL) 

 
 
 
 
 

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Van Andel Research Institute (VARI) 

 
 
 
 
 

Scientist I – Bioreactor / Cell Culture Group – 12 Month FTC

 
 

MedImmune UK 

 
 
 
 

No matter what your career stage, student, postdoc or senior scientist, you will find articles on naturejobs.com to help guide you in your science career. Keep up-to-date with the latest sector trends, vote in our reader poll and sign-up to receive the monthly Naturejobs newsletter.

 
 
 
 
  Nature events featured events  
 
 
 
 

natureevents.com - The premier science events website

natureevents featured events

 
 
 
 

American Heart Association Scientific Sessions 2012

 
 

03.-07.11.12 CA, US

 
 
 
 

Nature events is the premier resource for scientists looking for the latest scientific conferences, courses, meetings and symposia. Featured across Nature Publishing Group journals and centrally at natureevents.com it is an essential reference guide to scientific events worldwide.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Futures

 
     
 
 
 
 
 

The tell-tale ear ▶

 
 

Alex Shvartsman

 
 
 
 
     
 

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