Lopez B, Hurtley SM, Szuromi P
… +13 more, Vignieri S, Suleymanov Y, Sonawala U, Seale M, Fogg CN, Titiunik R, Jiang D, Funk MA, Nusinovich Y, Stajic J, Hessler A, Charneski C, Ferrarelli L
Three international renewable energy pioneers have been selected for the Mani L. Bhaumik Breakthrough of the Year Award.Three international renewable energy pioneers have been selected for the Mani L. Bhaumik Breakthrough of the Year Award.
Kim SJ, Maligal-Ganesh RV, Mahmood J
… +11 more, Kang PW, Harale A, AlSuhaibani AS, Hu Q, Alahmed AH, Jamal A, Suleiman R, Baaqel H, Atilhan M, Sarathy SM, Yavuz CT
Strategies for lowering carbon emissions from hydrocarbons and waste must overcome the challenges related to catalyst durability and the presorting of waste. Reforming low-value carbon sources with carbon dioxide (CO) of...Strategies for lowering carbon emissions from hydrocarbons and waste must overcome the challenges related to catalyst durability and the presorting of waste. Reforming low-value carbon sources with carbon dioxide (CO) offers an industrial-scale pathway for recycling waste streams into fuels and chemicals. We developed a nickel-molybdenum alloy nanocatalyst on single-crystalline magnesium oxide (NiMoCat) in pellet form on a kilogram scale suitable for high-pressure industrial reactors. Aliphatic hydrocarbons (methane, -butane) and aromatics (benzene, toluene) under pressurized CO yielded quantitative syngas without methanation or undesired oxidative by-products, such as butadiene or polyaromatics. Scaled-up NiMoCat maintains activity during long-term operation and enables a two-step process involving gasification of unsorted waste followed by hybrid reforming under realistic flue gas or CO flow. A detailed life-cycle analysis of biogas-to-dimethyl ether conversion showcases a scalable, sustainable CO utilization compatible with current fuel and chemical infrastructures.
High-resolution spectroscopy allows the probing of weak interactions and subtle phenomena. Although such measurements are routinely performed in the gas phase and in crystalline materials, studies of adsorbed species on...High-resolution spectroscopy allows the probing of weak interactions and subtle phenomena. Although such measurements are routinely performed in the gas phase and in crystalline materials, studies of adsorbed species on surfaces have previously fallen short of the ultimate spectral resolution, where dephasing is eliminated and the transition linewidth is determined by the excited-state lifetime. In this work, we devise an approach to surface preparation and deposition that provides access to Fourier-limited electronic transitions in single molecules on the surface of an organic crystal. By performing spectroscopy and super-resolution microscopy at liquid helium temperature, we shed light on the spectral and spatial features of the adsorbed species. Our results pave the way for investigations in solid-state physics, where angstrom spatial resolution can be combined with high-resolution laser spectroscopy.
The 70th anniversary of the first AI workshop invites reflection on the technology's wider legacies.The 70th anniversary of the first AI workshop invites reflection on the technology's wider legacies.
Peng Q, Li J, Jiang H
… +23 more, Cheng X, Nag P, Kleinau G, Lamb TD, Busche L, Lu Q, Zhou S, Liu Y, Zhang Y, Lv S, Wan S, Yang T, Chen Y, Zhang W, Nan W, Fu Y, Che T, Li Y, Liao H, Duan J, Schapiro I, Scheerer P, Zhang J
Human trichromatic color vision relies on three cone opsins [long-, middle-, and short-wavelength-sensitive opsins (LWS-, MWS-, and SWS-opsins, respectively)], whereas scotopic rod vision is mediated by rhodopsin. Althou...Human trichromatic color vision relies on three cone opsins [long-, middle-, and short-wavelength-sensitive opsins (LWS-, MWS-, and SWS-opsins, respectively)], whereas scotopic rod vision is mediated by rhodopsin. Although the structure of rhodopsin was solved more than 20 years ago, cone opsin structures have been lacking. Here, we present cryo-electron microscopy structures of the three human cone opsins, each bound to a G protein and all- retinal in the presumed active state. All three cone opsins differ markedly from rhodopsin. Within the retinal binding pocket, we identified a distinct counterion site (LWS- and MWS-opsins) and a ring of serines around the retinal (SWS-opsin). The active cone opsin structures explain how amino acid substitutions fine-tune spectral sensitivity and help clarify the molecular basis of color vision deficiencies and key differences in rod versus cone activation.
Impairments in intracellular quality-control mechanisms, including autophagy, affect neuronal integrity and function. Despite numerous studies aimed at slowing neuronal deterioration, it remains unclear whether neuronal...Impairments in intracellular quality-control mechanisms, including autophagy, affect neuronal integrity and function. Despite numerous studies aimed at slowing neuronal deterioration, it remains unclear whether neuronal function and intracellular quality can be restored once impaired. We developed a mouse model in which autophagy could be rapidly and reversibly regulated to investigate the reversibility of such defects. Suppressing autophagy led to proteome and transcriptome changes, inclusion body accumulation, and axonal swelling, all of which were largely ameliorated after autophagy restoration. Consistent with these cellular abnormalities, autophagy suppression induced motor and cognitive dysfunction, which was also reversed on autophagy restoration. Our findings elucidate the potential resilience of neuronal function and quality enabled by intracellular clearance.
Harmful algal blooms, the most severe ecological hazards worldwide, terminate abruptly within a few days. In this work, we identified that iron-catalyzed active lipid peroxides predominantly trigger individual cell ferro...Harmful algal blooms, the most severe ecological hazards worldwide, terminate abruptly within a few days. In this work, we identified that iron-catalyzed active lipid peroxides predominantly trigger individual cell ferroptosis and drive the population collapse of blooming cyanobacteria. We reveal the chronological sequence of labile iron burst, oxidative stress, lipid peroxidation, and cell death during a bloom demise event. Dead cells exhibit a nonrandom spatial distribution within colonies. Intensifying lipid peroxidation catalyzed by cellular labile iron generates truncated phospholipids with shortened fatty acyl chains bearing alkyl groups. These active lipid peroxides destabilize plasma membranes and induce nanoscale membrane pore formation, resulting in individual cell ferroptosis and lysis. Oxidized lipids are also released from ferroptotic cells, propagating lipid peroxidation to neighboring cells, thereby spreading death throughout the population.
Lamers KP, Ouwehand J, Ubels R
… +13 more, Nicolaus M, Camacho C, Potti J, Bell F, Burgess M, Lampe HM, Nilsson JÅ, Kerimov A, Ilyina T, Belskii E, Grinkov VG, Sternberg H, Both C
Migratory birds connect ecosystems worldwide and often show connectivity between breeding and nonbreeding areas, meaning that individuals have nonbreeding ("wintering") locations close to others from the same breeding po...Migratory birds connect ecosystems worldwide and often show connectivity between breeding and nonbreeding areas, meaning that individuals have nonbreeding ("wintering") locations close to others from the same breeding population. Although much work has characterized migration routes, we know little about what determines nonbreeding areas. We tracked pied flycatchers () from their entire breeding range and identified population-specific nonbreeding areas. Using an egg translocation experiment between the Netherlands and Sweden, we show that both inheritance and natal environment determine nonbreeding areas. Genetically Dutch birds that hatched in Sweden had nonbreeding areas intermediate between Swedish and Dutch populations. Although an inherited basis for migratory routes and nonbreeding areas may hamper rapid adaptation to a changing world, dispersing individuals can create new breeding-nonbreeding site combinations.
Liang L, Zhang S, Wang Z
… +18 more, Zhang H, Li C, Thapa C, Oh EK, Sirkin D, Sun X, Barishman A, McCarroll A, Duhe AC, Qian S, Zhong X, Jamison B, Wood W, Kozlova A, Pang ZP, Sanders AR, He X, Duan J
Most causal variants for neuropsychiatric disorders (NPD) remain unknown. A major hurdle is that disease variants may act in specific contexts, such as during neuronal activation, which is difficult to study in vivo at t...Most causal variants for neuropsychiatric disorders (NPD) remain unknown. A major hurdle is that disease variants may act in specific contexts, such as during neuronal activation, which is difficult to study in vivo at the population level. We profiled single-nucleus neuron-activation multiomics in human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived neurons from 100 donors, revealing the NPD-relevant transcriptomic and epigenomic landscape of neuronal activation. We identified abundant genetic variants associated with activity-dependent gene expression and chromatin accessibility, the latter explaining larger proportions of NPD heritability. Integrating multiomics data with genome-wide association studies further revealed NPD risk variants and genes with effects detected only upon stimulation, such as activity-dependent cholesterol metabolism. Our work highlights the power of cell stimulation to reveal context-specific "hidden" genetic effects.
As building bigger and better chatbots gets harder, AI researchers turn to agents that learn in simulated worlds.As building bigger and better chatbots gets harder, AI researchers turn to agents that learn in simulated worlds.
The , set to launch next month, aims to probe biology of the central Arctic Ocean.The , set to launch next month, aims to probe biology of the central Arctic Ocean.
The discovery of superconductivity in square-planar nickelates has offered a rich materials platform to explore the origins of high-temperature superconductivity. However, experimental investigations have largely been li...The discovery of superconductivity in square-planar nickelates has offered a rich materials platform to explore the origins of high-temperature superconductivity. However, experimental investigations have largely been limited to the infinite-layer NiO (, rare earth) nickelates. We constructed a phase diagram of multilayer square-planar NdNiO compounds and found signatures of superconductivity for dimensionality = 4 to 8. Upon decreasing , the superconducting anisotropy evolves owing to 4 electron effects, and electronic structure characteristics approach cuprate-like behavior. Magnetic fluctuations persist from within the superconducting regime and into the overdoped, nonsuperconducting regime. The superconducting regime overlaps with that of chemically doped infinite-layer nickelates, demonstrating underlying commonalities as well as differences across varying structural realizations of square-planar nickelates. Our work establishes this layered template for creating new nickel-based superconductors.
Ohashi S, Katayama K, Kojima A
… +16 more, Yang X, Fukuda M, Sacchetta F, Suno R, Sugita Y, Nuemket N, Kim S, Kobayashi K, Imai H, Iwata S, Nango E, Kobayashi T, Noda T, Olivucci M, Kato HE, Kandori H
Color vision in catarrhine primates relies on red-, green-, and blue-sensitive cone pigments that share an 11--retinal chromophore but differ in absorption maxima. Red and green pigments arose by recent gene duplication...Color vision in catarrhine primates relies on red-, green-, and blue-sensitive cone pigments that share an 11--retinal chromophore but differ in absorption maxima. Red and green pigments arose by recent gene duplication and differ at only a few residues. Here, we report cryo-electron microscopy structures of red and green cone pigments from the cynomolgus macaque () integrated with low-temperature vibrational spectroscopy and quantum mechanical and molecular mechanical modeling. The red-green spectral shift is dominated by threonine 285, the hydroxyl dipole of which modulates chromophore electrostatics, whereas steric effects appear modest. We also identified membrane-facing lateral openings in cone pigments but not in inactive rhodopsin. Comparisons with active-state structures suggest activation-dependent gating, and mutational and spectroscopic analyses support a role for this opening in retinal uptake and rapid pigment regeneration.
The nature of Earth's crust during the Hadean eon [≥4.03 billion years ago (Ga)] is uncertain. Numerical models of early Earth geodynamics emphasize the control of mantle temperature but generally consider only internall...The nature of Earth's crust during the Hadean eon [≥4.03 billion years ago (Ga)] is uncertain. Numerical models of early Earth geodynamics emphasize the control of mantle temperature but generally consider only internally derived heat, despite empirical evidence for an intense Hadean impact flux. Using a stochastic model of that flux, we show that the time-integrated heat due to impacts would have dwarfed that produced internally throughout the Hadean. Earth's Hadean crust would have been extensively molten at depths below a few kilometers, causing gravitational segregation of dense, iron- and magnesium-rich material and driving average crustal compositions to become increasingly silica rich. Globally, impact heating would have become much less important after 3.9 Ga, allowing the crust to thicken. That enduring continental crust appeared around this time is likely not a coincidence.
Stratified epithelial differentiation involves transcriptional and proteomic remodeling. Here, multiomic profiling implicated ubiquitin and related posttranslational networks in differentiation dynamics. Systematic pertu...Stratified epithelial differentiation involves transcriptional and proteomic remodeling. Here, multiomic profiling implicated ubiquitin and related posttranslational networks in differentiation dynamics. Systematic perturbation of ubiquitin-like machinery in primary human keratinocytes which uncovered opposite functions of neural-precursor-cell-expressed, developmentally down-regulated 8 (NEDD8) and small ubiquitin-related modifier 2 (SUMO2). Generation of conditional knockout mice established essential roles for NEDD8 in progenitor maintenance, skin regeneration, and inflammation, whereas SUMO2 was required for differentiation. Beyond ubiquitin-proteasome-concordant changes, NEDD8 directed proteomic regulation correlated with RNA abundance. Integration of immunoprecipitation- mass spectrometry with genome-wide suppressor screening revealed context-specific NEDDylation dependencies. Among effectors, heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein U (HNRNPU) emerged as a posttranscriptional regulator of epithelial cell state whose RNA binding repertoire was modulated by NEDDylation. Thus, NEDD8 and SUMO2 play opposite roles in epithelial homeostasis, regeneration, and inflammation, demonstrating multiple ways ubiquitin-like networks govern tissue homeostasis.