Catálogo de publicaciones - revistas

<jats:title>An a-maize-ing set of genomes</jats:title> <jats:p> Maize is an important crop cultivated worldwide. As maize spread across the world, selection for local environments resulted in variation, but the impact on differences between the genome has not been quantified. By producing high-quality genomic sequences of the 26 lines used in the maize nested association mapping panel, Hufford <jats:italic>et al</jats:italic> . map important traits and demonstrate the diversity of maize. Examining RNA and methylation of genes across accessions, the authors identified a core set of maize genes. Beyond this core set, comparative analysis across lines identified high levels of variation in the total set of genes, the maize pan-genome. The value of this resource was further exemplified by mapping quantitative traits of interest, including those related to pathogen resistance. —LMZ </jats:p>

<jats:title>RNA solution for a genetic problem</jats:title> <jats:p> Phenylketonuria provides a classic case of the benefit of newborn metabolic screening: It is a single-gene disease that can be detected at birth, and its neurological effects can be prevented by dietary therapy. Unfortunately, this is not always straightforward because the disease-causing mutations in phenylalanine hydroxylase vary between patients and affect the severity of the phenotype, such that some patients’ symptoms do not fully respond to the available interventions. Li <jats:italic>et al</jats:italic> . identified two long noncoding RNAs, one in mice and one in humans, that interact with phenylalanine hydroxylase and modulate its function (see the Perspective by Ben-Tov Perry and Ulitsky). Administration of modified RNAs mimicking their effects ameliorated the disease phenotype in mouse models of phenylketonuria. —YN </jats:p>

<jats:title>Quantum enhanced sensing</jats:title> <jats:p> Harnessing quantum mechanical effects is expected to provide an advantage over classical sensing technology. By entangling the center-of-mass motional state of approximately 150 ions trapped in a two-dimensional Coulomb crystal with their collective spin state, Gilmore <jats:italic>et al</jats:italic> . demonstrate a quantum-enhanced measurement sensitivity of displacement and electric field. Such enhanced sensitivity could, for instance, find application in probing proposed weak interactions between dark matter and normal matter, as well as enhancing gravitational wave detection. —ISO </jats:p>

<jats:title>Spectral fingerprint of stabilized •QOOH</jats:title> <jats:p> Carbon-centered radicals containing the hydroperoxy group, commonly denoted as •QOOH, are elusive but are among the most critical intermediate species for kinetic modeling of hydrocarbon oxidation in various atmospheric and combustion processes. Their direct experimental observation is a long-standing challenge, with only one successful previous attempt. Using a combination of infrared activation spectroscopy and an ultraviolet laser–induced fluorescence detection method, Hansen <jats:italic>et al</jats:italic> . directly characterized the vibrational structure of a •QOOH intermediate in isobutane oxidation, collisionally stabilized and isolated, and followed its dissociative evolution under infrared activation with time and energy resolution. High-level electronic structure calculations revealed an important role of heavy-atom tunneling in this process. —YS </jats:p>

<jats:title>Locking structure to high temperature</jats:title> <jats:p> Because of atomic diffusion, metal alloys with nanometer-sized crystal grains do not retain their structure at high temperature. Xu <jats:italic>et al</jats:italic> . found that a minimum-interface structure allows a supersaturated aluminum-magnesium alloy to be retained at temperatures higher than the melting point. This system is known for high atomic diffusivity, highlighting the importance of the underlying interface structure. These observations have implications for designing structural alloys for high-temperature applications. —BG </jats:p>

<jats:title>Confined flow effects</jats:title> <jats:p> Most memory resistor (“memristor”) systems use electrons as the charge carrier but it may also be possible to use ionic carriers, similar to the way that neurons work. Robin <jats:italic>et al</jats:italic> . studied an aqueous electrolyte confined into a pseudo two-dimensional gap between two graphite layers (see the Perspective by Hou and Hou). The authors observed a current–voltage relation that exhibits hysteresis, and the conductance depends on the history of the system, also known as the memresistor effect. Using simulations of their system, they can model the emission of voltage spikes characteristic of neuromorphic activity. —MSL </jats:p>

<jats:title>A durable way to keep cool</jats:title> <jats:p> The fibers that make up textiles can be augmented to change how they interact with thermal radiation, but the resulting materials often are not durable. Zeng <jats:italic>et al</jats:italic> . developed a multilayer metafabric composed of a titanium oxide polylactic acid composite laminated with a polytetrafluoroethylene layer. This combination creates a textile that has passive radiative cooling properties with good mechanical properties and scalability. The textile can be made into clothes or car covers and keeps a person or a car much cooler than other fabrics. —BG </jats:p>

<jats:title>Squirrel parkour</jats:title> <jats:p> Every day, there are acrobatic extravaganzas going on above our heads. Squirrels navigate remarkably complex and unpredictable environments as they leap from branch to branch, and mistakes can be fatal. These feats require a complex combination of evolved biomechanical adaptations and learned behaviors. Hunt <jats:italic>et al</jats:italic> . characterized the integration of these features in a series of experiments with free-living fox squirrels (see the Perspective by Adolph and Young). They found that the squirrels’ remarkable and consistent success was due to a combination of learned impulse generation when assessing the balance between distance and branch flexibility and the addition of innovative leaps and landings in the face of increasingly difficult challenges. —SNV </jats:p>

<jats:title>Structural changes in HIV maturation</jats:title> <jats:p> Nascent HIV particles assemble at the plasma membrane of an infected cell and bud into a membrane-enveloped, immature virion. Assembly and budding are driven by a polyprotein called Gag, which consists of a matrix domain (MA) that is recruited to the plasma membrane, a capsid domain (CA) responsible for self-assembly, and a nucleocapsid domain (NC) that recruits the viral RNA genome. Gag cleavage results in a structural rearrangement that produces the mature virion. Qu <jats:italic>et al</jats:italic> . imaged mature and immature HIV particles by electron tomography and focused in on the MA domain (see the Perspective by Hikichi and Freed). They found that MA rearranges between two distinct hexameric lattices, and mature MA modulates the viral membrane by binding to a membrane lipid. This finding suggests that MA may play functional roles in the mature virion. —VV </jats:p>