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Zinc finger nucleases have an established role in genome editing. Here, the authors report a strategy for identifying zinc finger nucleases that discriminate between desired targets and provide genome-wide specificity.
There is intensive research underway into the development of various mechanical energy harvesters. Here, the authors report an electrochemically driven mechanical energy harvester that uses the stress-induced potential difference of lithiated silicon electrodes to generate continuous electricity.
Nanopore sensors have shown tremendous potential for biomolecule sensing, though the diffusion-controlled capture can limit the speed of analysis. Here, the authors report a dielectrophoretic method to concentrate DNA near the tip of a nanopore, reducing the limit of detection by three orders of magnitude.
The occlusion of biomacromolecules can endow biominerals with enhanced mechanical properties. Here, the authors usein situatomic force microscopy and micromechanical simulations to trace micelle incorporation in calcite to shed light on the mechanism of occlusion and cavity formation.
Transition state theory has proven to be a powerful tool for the analysis of a number of processes, perhaps most commonly chemical reactions. Here, the authors use transition state theory to model a directly observable, micron scale process—the transport of DNA molecules in a confined environment.
Bone mineral density (BMD) is the best predictor of osteoporotic fracture risk. Here, the authors perform a genome wide association study in Icelanders and people of European and East-Asian descent, and identify a new allele in intron 15 of the PTCH1gene that associates with reduced BMD.
Degrons are determinants within proteins that direct programmed degradation by the ubiquitinproteasome system. Here, the authors propose a three-part degron architecture which contains an E3-ligase recognition motif, a ubiquitination site(s), and a disordered site to initiate degradation.
There has been limited success in generating tissues from human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs). Here, the authors genetically engineer expression of the transcription factor Gata6 in a single isogenic hiPSC population resulting in complex tissue structures that exhibit liver bud-like properties.
Mammalian hearing is remarkable for its sensitivity and frequency selectivity. Here, the authors show that outer hair cell-generated force, which amplifies sound-induced vibrations inside the cochlea, is responsible for these traits.
The current hemostasis assays are unable to predict thrombotic or bleeding risk in clinics. Here, Jain et al. present a novel microfluidic device mimicking stenosed arterioles that determines clotting times in vitroand in extracorporeal circuits, offering a simple and reliable monitoring of blood homeostasis and platelet function.
How embryonic melanoblast behaviour influences adult pigmentation patterns and causes patterning defects is unclear. Here, Mort et al. construct a stochastic model parameterised experimentally to show that melanoblast migration is undirected and that reduced proliferation causes patterning defects.
Existing single-cell RNA-seq methods provide the transcriptome of a cellular phenotype at a single time point. Here, Kimmerlinget al. present a microfluidic platform that enables off-chip single-cell RNA-seq after multigenerational lineage tracking under controlled culture conditions.
Insulin-producing pancreatic beta cells, generatedin vitro, could lead to new anti-diabetic therapies. Here, Zhu et al. convert human fibroblasts into endodermal progenitors that differentiate in vitrointo glucose-responsive beta-like cells that, following transplantation in mice, protect from diabetes.
Sepsis can lead to multiple organ failure that could potentially be reflected by change in plasma protein abundance. Here the authors describe a proteomics strategy that allows the determination of plasma proteins tissue origin in a quantitative manner for use as biomarkers—illustrated in a mouse model of sepsis.
Perovskite solar cells exhibit large conversion efficiencies, but their stability still represents a bottleneck. Here, the authors integrate a hygroscopic polymer scaffold to the perovskite active layer and fabricate efficient and stable devices that recover after being exposed to a humid environment.
Liquid crystals are grouped into four main classes—nematic, lamellar, cubic and columnar—depending on their symmetries. Here, the authors show for the first time that a columnar phase can form in suspensions of imogolite nanotubes at very low concentrations.
The fabrication of organic photovoltaic modules usually relies on patterning techniques which limit their efficiencies. Here, the authors propose a module structure that avoids the patterning steps, and use doctor-blade printing and slot-die coating to fabricate large-area modules reaching 7.5% efficiencies.
Understanding the dynamics of bound and free charges and local electric fields on a nanometre scale are important in scanning tunnelling microscopy and nanoscale electronics. Here, the authors present a model system—a metallic tip near a gallium arsenide surface—for studying such electrostatic interactions.
Bacterial lipoproteins have important biological functions, and the lipoprotien biogenesis enzyme Lgt is essential in most gram-negative bacteria. Here, the authors use structural and biochemical techniques to shed light on the function of Lgt in post-translational transacylation modification.
A moderate increase in temperature promotes hypocotyl elongation in Arabidopsis. Here, Wang et al.show that elevated temperature not only increases auxin biosynthesis but also acts via the co-chaperones HSP90 and SGT1 to stabilize the TIR1 auxin receptor.