| | Immunology: Channelling potassium to fight cancer
Potassium released from dying tumour cells has now been found to suppress the activity of T cells of the immune system. Enhancing the removal of potassium from T cells restores their ability to attack cancer. | Developmental biology: Panoramic views of the early epigenome
Four studies detail changes in how DNA is wrapped around histone proteins and in molecular modifications to histones that occur after fertilization. The results shed light on the early regulation of gene expression. | Cancer: Acidic shield puts a chink in p53's armour
Underactivity of the transcription factor p53 can lead to tumour development. The discovery that the SET protein binds to and inhibits p53 points to a way to unleash the tumour suppressor's activity. | Alzheimer's disease: Structure of aggregates revealed
A technical feat achieved by two independent groups has enabled resolution of the molecular structure of a form of the amyloid-β protein that is thought to play a major part in Alzheimer's disease. | High-throughput discovery of novel developmental phenotypes
Identification and characterization, using a comprehensive embryonic phenotyping pipeline, of 410 lethal alleles during the generation of the first 1,751 of 5,000 unique gene knockouts produced by the International Mouse Phenotyping Consortium. | X-ray structures define human P2X3 receptor gating cycle and antagonist action
Structures of the human P2X3 receptor in its open, closed, desensitized and antagonist-bound states show the receptor’s gating mechanism and the basis of antagonist binding. | Accurate de novo design of hyperstable constrained peptides
Computational methods for the de novo design of conformationally restricted peptides produce exceptionally stable short peptides stabilized by backbone cyclization and/or internal disulfide bonds that are promising starting points for a new generation of peptide-based drugs. | The formation of Charon’s red poles from seasonally cold-trapped volatiles
The unusual dark red coloration of Charon’s northern polar cap is shown to be produced from hydrocarbons that are cold-trapped from Pluto’s escaping atmosphere during winter. | Potassium isotopic evidence for a high-energy giant impact origin of the Moon
The potassium isotope signature of lunar rocks supports the model of a high-energy giant impact as the origin of the Moon. | A blue-light photoreceptor mediates the feedback regulation of photosynthesis
Algae rely on blue-light-sensitive phototropin to trigger induction of LHCRS3, allowing it to dissipate energy from excess light that would otherwise compromise the fitness of the organism. | Broad histone H3K4me3 domains in mouse oocytes modulate maternal-to-zygotic transition
Three papers in this issue of Nature use highly sensitive ChIP–seq assays to describe the dynamic patterns of histone modifications during early mouse embryogenesis, showing that oocytes have a distinctive epigenome and providing insights into how the maternal gene expression program transitions to the zygotic program. | Allelic reprogramming of the histone modification H3K4me3 in early mammalian development
Three papers in this issue of Nature use highly sensitive ChIP–seq assays to describe the dynamic patterns of histone modifications during early mouse embryogenesis, showing that oocytes have a distinctive epigenome and providing insights into how the maternal gene expression program transitions to the zygotic program. | Distinct features of H3K4me3 and H3K27me3 chromatin domains in pre-implantation embryos
Three papers in this issue of Nature use highly sensitive ChIP–seq assays to describe the dynamic patterns of histone modifications during early mouse embryogenesis, showing that oocytes have a distinctive epigenome and providing insights into how the maternal gene expression program transitions to the zygotic program. | Ionic immune suppression within the tumour microenvironment limits T cell effector function
Potassium ions released by necrotic cells in tumours impair T cell function by increasing the intracellular potassium concentration in vitro and in vivo. | Accessory subunits are integral for assembly and function of human mitochondrial complex I
Gene-editing technology and large-scale proteomics are used to provide insights into the modular assembly of the human mitochondrial respiratory chain complex I, as well as identifying new assembly factors. | Acetylation-regulated interaction between p53 and SET reveals a widespread regulatory mode
The acidic domain of SET binds and represses unacetylated p53, but this interaction is prevented by cellular-stress-induced p53 CTD acetylation. | | Erratum: Structural basis of potent Zika–dengue virus antibody cross-neutralization | | Erratum: Structure of the adenosine A2A receptor bound to an engineered G protein | | Corrigendum: Human commensals producing a novel antibiotic impair pathogen colonization | | Corrigendum: Age-dependent modulation of vascular niches for haematopoietic stem cells | | Corrigendum: Transfer of mitochondria from astrocytes to neurons after stroke | | A radio-pulsing white dwarf binary star
Observations of a white dwarf/cool star binary that emits from X-ray to radio wavelengths, AR Sco, reveal a close binary with a 3.56-h period, pulsing in brightness with a period of 1.97 min; these pulses are so intense that the optical flux of AR Sco can increase by a factor of four within 30 s, and the pulsing is detectable at radio frequencies.
T. R. Marsh, B. T. Gänsicke, S. Hümmerich et al. | Follicular CXCR5-expressing CD8+ T cells curtail chronic viral infection
A population of partially exhausted CXCR5+ CD8+ T cells, induced by chronic virus infection and residing in B-cell follicles, is shown to control viral replication.
Ran He, Shiyue Hou, Cheng Liu et al. | Enhanced electrocatalytic CO2 reduction via field-induced reagent concentration
Gold and palladium nanoneedle electrocatalysts benefit from field-induced reagent concentration to improve the efficiency of carbon dioxide reduction in the synthesis of carbon-based fuels using renewable electricity.
Min Liu, Yuanjie Pang, Bo Zhang et al. | A PGC1α-mediated transcriptional axis suppresses melanoma metastasis
PGC1α suppresses melanoma metastasis and promotes growth and survival in primary tumours, whilst inhibition of PGC1α induces increased invasion and metastasis.
Chi Luo, Ji-Hong Lim, Yoonjin Lee et al. | Catalytic enantioselective 1,6-conjugate additions of propargyl and allyl groups
A difficult synthesis is described that uses an organocopper catalyst and commercially available starting materials to give high yield and the mechanics of the reaction are elucidated through density functional theory.
Fanke Meng, Xiben Li, Sebastian Torker et al. | Extreme creep resistance in a microstructurally stable nanocrystalline alloy
A nanocrystalline copper–tantalum alloy with high strength and extremely high-temperature creep resistance is achieved via a processing method that creates clusters of atoms within the alloy that pin grain boundaries.
K. A. Darling, M. Rajagopalan, M. Komarasamy et al. | A nucleosynthetic origin for the Earth’s anomalous 142Nd composition
Neodynium isotope data reveal that the Earth is enriched in material from red giant stars relative to its presumed meteoritic building blocks, refuting models of a hidden reservoir of 142Nd-depleted material or a ‘super-chondritic’ Earth.
C. Burkhardt, L. E. Borg, G. A. Brennecka et al. | Primitive Solar System materials and Earth share a common initial 142Nd abundance
Calcium–aluminium-rich refractory inclusions without isotopic anomalies in neodymium and enstatite chondrites share a 146Sm–142Nd isotopic evolution with the modern Earth’s mantle, supporting a chondritic Sm/Nd ratio for Earth.
A. Bouvier, M. Boyet | Discovery of species-wide tool use in the Hawaiian crow
A species-wide study shows that the Hawaiian crow Corvus hawaiiensis is a highly proficient tool user, creating opportunities for comparative studies with tool-using New Caledonian crows and other corvids.
Christian Rutz, Barbara C. Klump, Lisa Komarczyk et al. | Life history of the stem tetrapod Acanthostega revealed by synchrotron microtomography
Analysis of fossil limb bones suggests that a mass-death deposit of the Devonian tetrapod Acanthostega may consist entirely of juveniles, throwing new light on the life history of this species and the evolution of terrestriality.
Sophie Sanchez, Paul Tafforeau, Jennifer A. Clack et al. | Defining CD8+ T cells that provide the proliferative burst after PD-1 therapy
Chronic infection with lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus promotes the establishment of a population of stem-like PD-1+ CD8+ T cells that reside in lymphoid tissues and preferentially expand when the PD-1 inhibitory pathway is blocked.
Se Jin Im, Masao Hashimoto, Michael Y. Gerner et al. | Restricted diet delays accelerated ageing and genomic stress in DNA-repair-deficient mice
A restricted diet extends the lives and improves the health of mice with accelerated ageing due to an inability to repair DNA damage.
W. P. Vermeij, M. E. T. Dollé, E. Reiling et al. | | | | |
