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Inflammasome activation can lead to chronic inflammatory conditions; however, the mechanisms controlling the duration of this activation are not well understood. Here, Ouyang et al.report that adenosine sustains inflammasome activity, which brings insights into the pathology of chronic inflammatory diseases.
Nanopore sensors are a promising tool for the controlled detection of a range of possible substrates. Here the authors describe a nanopore sensor based on short single-walled carbon nanotubes inserted into a lipid bilayer, with modified sensing properties compared to longer nanotubes.
The idea that closed-end pores should not display an adsorption–desorption hysteresis loop has long been proposed but never experimentally confirmed. Here, through the preparation of highly uniform pores with smooth walls, the authors confirm the presence of a reversible isotherm in such systems.
Small molecule activators of the energy sensing kinase AMPK are promising candidates as therapies for metabolic disease. Xiao et al. present the crystal structure of AMPK in complex with a small molecule activator, and show that the drug stabilizes interaction between the catalytic and carbohydrate-binding domains.
Protein-based hydrogels are of great interest for many biomedical applications. Here, the authors demonstrate the use of mechanical labile proteins to initiate large-scale forced unfolding in order to engineer the mechanical properties of protein-based biomaterials.
ϕ analysis provides a means to tease apart the dynamics of fast conformational changes in proteins by analysing the thermodynamic impact of point mutations. Purohit et al.apply this approach on a grand scale to map energy changes associated with the opening and closing of an acetylcholine receptor.
Capacity degradation over extended cycles is a major problem in lithium-sulphur batteries. Here, Su et al.report a charge operation control strategy to inhibit dissolution of polysulphides leading to enhanced capacity retention over multiple cycles.
Understanding the oxygen reduction reaction at fuel cell cathodes requires information on adsorbed oxygenated species. Sanchez Casalongue et al. report in situidentification of oxygenated intermediates at cathodes and establish a correlation between the cathode potential and the surface speciation.
The Kondo insulator samarium hexaboride exhibits low-temperature transport anomalies, which might be due to topological surface states. Here Jiang et al.perform angle-resolved photoemission and its circular dichroism measurements, which suggest that the anomalies might be of topological origin.
Spider silk fibre is known to be composed of arrangements of structural domains. Here, the authors implement multiple atomic force microscopy modes to study the nanoscale morphology and mechanics of these fibres from nine spiders, and relate them to their molecular structures.
Many Gram-negative bacterial pathogens use the type III secretion system to translocate effectors into the host cell. Here, the authors characterize a bacterial phosphoinositide-binding domain, which is conserved in diverse type III effectors of both plant and animal pathogens and couples membrane localization with refolding.
To use colloidal quantum dots in applications such as p-n junction solar cells, doping of the quantum dots is needed. Here, Stavrinadis et al. achieve lead sulphide quantum dot p-n homojunctions by heterovalent cation substitution of lead using bismuth.
Samarium hexaboride, a well-known Kondo insulator, shows transport anomalies at low temperatures, which recently have been proposed to be of topological origin. Using laser- and synchrotron-based photoemission techniques, Neupane et al. find evidence for a topological Fermi surface.
Topological defects are observed in a range of active systems, but their dynamical properties are largely unknown. Here, the authors use a simulation of self-propelled hard-rods to generate topological defects in active nematics, finding that their anomalous dynamics may lead to large-scale collective motions.
MyoD and myogenin are muscle regulatory factors that are involved in muscle development. Park et al.study a mouse model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and find that MyoD and myogenin have positive and negative effects, respectively, on motor neuron degeneration and muscle denervation.
Gene expression in the vascular endothelium is sensitive to shear forces exerted by the circulation. Here the authors identify miR-712 as a mechanosensitive microRNA expressed in endothelial cells and show that miR-712 inhibits pro-atherogenic processes by downregulating tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase 3.
Cervical thymi are secondary sites of T-cell development in mice. Here, the authors investigate previously unknown origin of cervical thymi and show that they develop as a by-product of the normal separation of thymic and parathyroid tissue.
The controlled synthesis of monodisperse nanospheres faces a number of difficulties, such as extensive crosslinking during hydrothermal processes. Here, the authors show a route for the controlled synthesis of mesoporous polymer nanospheres, which can be further converted into carbon nanospheres through carbonization.
Bacterial persistence is one of the major causes of failure of antibiotic treatment, and several toxin–antitoxin modules have been linked to the persistent phenotype. Here, the authors show that HipA toxin causes growth arrest and persistence via phosphorylation of the glutamyl-tRNA-synthetase.
Isolated populations may empower genetic association studies of complex traits. Here, the authors identify a rare cardioprotective APOC3variant in a Greek population isolate and highlight the value of using population isolates to detect rare variants that confer disease risk.