NATURE AND THE NATURE RESEARCH JOURNALS PRESS RELEASE
For papers that will be published online on 18 April 2010
This press release is copyrighted to the Nature journals mentioned below.
This press release contains:
· Summaries of newsworthy papers:
Materials: The silk road to bio-integrated electronics
Genetics: Mutations confer increased risk of breast and ovarian cancer
Methods: Finding missing bits in the human genome
· Mention of papers to be published at the same time with the same embargo
· Geographical listing of authors
PDFs of all the papers mentioned on this release can be found in the relevant journal’s section of http://press.nature.com. Press contacts for the Nature journals are listed at the end of this release.
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[1] Materials: The silk road to bio-integrated electronics
DOI: 10.1038/nmat2745
A strategy for making flexible electronic circuits for bio-implants is reported online this week in Nature Materials. Dissolvable silk substrates enable the use of ultrathin, finely spaced electronic components that lead to improved electrode to tissue interfaces such as that between a brain and a computer.
Bio-integrated microelectronics need to be adjustable to highly convoluted structures like the brain. Currently, the necessary mechanical stability of the films requires the use of thick electronic circuits with limited flexibility. John Rogers and colleagues use flexible and bio-dissolvable silk substrates, onto which ultrathin and finely-spaced silicon electronic circuits are then transferred. In tests, the bio-integrated circuits showed a good electronic response to feline brain signals while exhibiting no inflammation for at least four weeks.
Author contact:
John Rogers (University of Illinois, Urbana, IL, USA)
Tel: +1 217 244 4979; E-mail: [email protected]
[2] & [3] Genetics: Mutations confer increased risk of breast and ovarian cancer
DOI: 10.1038/ng.569
DOI: 10.1038/ng.570
Mutations in the gene RAD51C lead to an increased risk of breast and ovarian cancer, according to a report published online this week in Nature Genetics. An accompanying study reports that mutations in RAD51C also cause a Fanconi anemia-like disorder. These two studies reinforce the known link between Fanconi anemia and susceptibility to breast and ovarian cancer.
In women, breast cancer is the second most commonly diagnosed cancer, causing approximately half a million deaths each year. Ovarian cancer is less common, with approximately 200,000 new cases each year worldwide, however, it is a much more deadly cancer. Family history is an important risk factor for both breast and ovarian cancer, and BRCA1 and BRCA2 are well-known breast/ovarian cancer susceptibility genes. The mutated forms of these genes lead to an approximately 60% lifetime risk of breast cancer and a 15% to 40% lifetime risk of ovarian cancer.
Alfons Meindl and colleagues analyzed 1,100 German families with gynecological cancers and identified mutations in one copy of RAD51C that confer an increased risk of breast and ovarian cancer. The mutations were found only in families showing breast and ovarian tumors, but not in families with only breast cancer. Although occurrence of mutations in RAD51C is rare, the mutations appear to have a large effect, roughly comparable to effects observed for BRCA1/2 mutations.
Christopher Mathew and colleagues report that a mutation in both copies of RAD51C causes a Fanconi anemia-like disorder in a single family. Two of the three affected individuals in this family died in early infancy due to severe congenital abnormalities and the other affected individual displays extensive congenital abnormalities.
Author contacts:
Alfons Meindl (Klinikum rechts der Isar, Munich, Germany) Author paper [2]
Tel: +49 89 4140 6750; E-mail: [email protected]
Helmut Hanenberg (Heinrich Heine University, Duesseldorf, Germany) Co-author paper [2] & [3]
Tel: +49 211 811 6103/7680; E-mail: [email protected]
Christopher Mathew (King’s College London, UK) Author paper [3]
Tel: +44 207 188 3713; E-mail: [email protected]
Detlev Schindler (University of Wuerzburg, Germany) Co-author paper [3]
Tel: +49 931 31 84088; E-mail: [email protected]
[4] Methods: Finding missing bits in the human genome
DOI 10.1038/nmeth.1451
The human reference genome, even 10 years after its official completion, still contains gaps that are not easy to close. A report, published online this week in Nature Methods, describes an approach to discover some of these missing pieces and to better reflect the genetic diversity of humans.
An ever increasing number of human genomes are being sequenced by high throughput technologies that fragment the genome into small pieces. To assemble them into chromosomes the human reference genome, a mosaic built from the genomes of several individuals, is essential as the blueprint. This reference correctly depicts more than 90% of the human genome, yet some regions are still not well represented, and any medically relevant genetic information is not accessible.
To sequence such regions, Evan Eichler and his team used a set of clones that contained the full genome of nine humans in 40-kilobase segments. The scientists used dideoxy sequencing, the same technology that led to the first draft of the human genome in 2001, to sequence either the full clones or just their ends. After aligning the sequences to the reference genome they identified new insertions at 720 sites in the genome. Around 25% of these novel sequences show great variation between the European, Asian and African individuals in the group. This indicates that to assess the true diversity of the human race more groups should be sampled and analyzed.
Author contact:
Evan Eichler (University of Washington, WA, USA)
Tel: +1 206 543 9526; E-mail: [email protected]
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Items from other Nature journals to be published online at the same time and with the same embargo:
Nature (http://www.nature.com/nature)
[5] Evolution of self-compatibility in Arabidopsis by a mutation in the male specificity gene
DOI: 10.1038/nature08927
[6] The scaffold protein Ste5 directly controls a switch-like mating decision in yeast
DOI: 10.1038/nature08946
[7] Native GABAB receptors are heteromultimers with a family of auxiliary subunits
DOI: 10.1038/nature08964
[8] X-ray crystal structure of the light-independent protochlorophyllide reductase
DOI: 10.1038/nature08950
NATURE CELL BIOLOGY (http://www.nature.com/naturecellbiology)
[9] Regulation of RhoGTPase crosstalk, degradation and activity by RhoGDI1
DOI: 10.1038/ncb2049
[10] Mechanosensitive gating of CFTR
DOI: 10.1038/ncb2053
NATURE CHEMISTRY (http://www.nature.com/nchem)
[11] Geometry-controlled kinetics
DOI: 10.1038/nchem.622
[12] Rapid preparation of flexible porous coordination polymer nanocrystals with accelerated guest adsorption kinetics
DOI: 10.1038/nchem.627
NATURE GENETICS (http://www.nature.com/naturegenetics)
[13] Subtle variations in Pten dose determine cancer susceptibility
DOI: 10.1038/ng.556
NATURE GEOSCIENCE (http://www.nature.com/ngeo)
[14] The impact of agricultural soil erosion on biogeochemical cycling
DOI: 10.1038/ngeo838
NATURE MATERIALS (http://www.nature.com/naturematerials)
[15] Complementary resistive switches for passive nanocrossbar memories
DOI: 10.1038/nmat2748
[16] A single-layer wide-angle negative index metamaterial at visible frequencies
DOI: 10.1038/nmat2747
[17] State-selective dissociation of a single water molecule on an ultrathin MgO film
DOI: 10.1038/nmat2740
Nature MEDICINE (http://www.nature.com/naturemedicine)
[18] Lethal graft-versus-host disease in mouse models of T cell receptor gene therapy
DOI: 10.1038/nm.2128
[19] A CD8+ T cell transcription signature predicts prognosis in autoimmune disease
DOI: 10.1038/nm.2130
NATURE METHODS (http://www.nature.com/nmeth)
[20] High-speed in vivo calcium imaging reveals spike trains in neuronal networks with near-millisecond precision
DOI: 10.1038/nmeth.1453
NATURE NANOTECHNOLOGY (http://www.nature.com/nnano)
[21] Logic implementations using a single nanoparticle–protein hybrid
DOI: 10.1038/nnano.2010.62
[22] A double-stranded DNA rotaxane
DOI: 10.1038/nnano.2010.65
Nature NEUROSCIENCE (http://www.nature.com/natureneuroscience)
[23] Hypoxia activates a novel circuit for processing gustatory information in C. elegans
DOI: 10.1038/nn.2537
[24] Contrast gain control and cortical TrkB signaling shape visual acuity
DOI: 10.1038/nn.2534
NATURE PHOTONICS (http://www.nature.com/nphoton)
[25] Ultrafast optical spin echo in a single quantum dot
DOI: 10.1038/nphoton.2010.83
[26] Room-temperature polariton lasing in an organic single-crystal microcavity
DOI: 10.1038/nphoton.2010.86
[27] Room-temperature lasing from subwavelength metallo-dielectric lasers
DOI: 10.1038/nphoton.2010.88
Nature PHYSICS (http://www.nature.com/naturephysics)
[28] Integrated elastomeric components for autonomous regulation of sequential and oscillatory flow switching in microfluidic devices
DOI: 10.1038/nphys1637
[29] Experimental violation of a Bell’s inequality in time with weak measurement
DOI: 10.1038/nphys1641
[30] Laser-driven amplification of soft X-rays by parametric stimulated emission in neutral gases
DOI: 10.1038/nphys1638
Nature STRUCTURAL & MOLECULAR BIOLOGY (http://www.nature.com/natstructmolbiol)
[31] Binding of the Complexin N terminus to the SNARE complex potentiates synaptic vesicle fusogenicity
DOI: 10.1038/nsmb.1791
[32] Structure of the bacterial teichoic acid polymerase TagF provides insights into membrane association and catalysis
DOI: 10.1038/nsmb.1819
[33] Insights into pneumococcal fratricide from the crystal structures of the modular killing factor LytC
DOI: 10.1038/nsmb.1817
[34] Structural aspects of messenger RNA maintenance by the ribosome
DOI: 10.1038/nsmb.1790
[35] Molecular basis of Histone H3K36me3 recognition by the PWWP domain of BRPF1
DOI: 10.1038/nsmb.1797
[36] Cricket paralysis virus antagonizes Argonaute 2 to modulate antiviral defense in Drosophila
DOI: 10.1038/nsmb.1810
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GEOGRAPHICAL LISTING OF AUTHORS
The following list of places refers to the whereabouts of authors on the papers numbered in this release. The listing may be for an author's main affiliation, or for a place where they are working temporarily. Please see the PDF of the paper for full details.
BELGIUM
Leuven: 14
Liege: 21
Louvain-la-Neuve: 14
CANADA:
Hamilton: 32
Montreal: 6
Vancouver: 32
CHINA
Beijing: 1
Hong Kong: 10
CZECH REPUBLIC
Prague: 7
FRANCE
Gif-sur-Yvette: 29
Illkirch: 34
Nice: 9
Orsay: 30
Paris: 11, 36
GERMANY
Aachen: 12, 15
Berlin: 18, 31
Bonn: 22
Cologne: 2
Darmstadt: 30
Dresden: 2
Düsseldorf: 2, 3
Frankfurt: 22
Freiburg: 7, 11
Jena: 30
Julich: 15
Leipzig: 2
Mainz: 30
Planegg-Martinsried: 5
Munich: 2
Neuherberg: 2
Tubingen: 33
Ulm: 2
Wurzburg: 2, 25, 30
ISRAEL
Jerusalem: 21
Rehovot: 21
Tel Aviv: 11
ITALY
Bari: 4
JAPAN
Chiba: 17
Ikoma: 5
Kashiwara: 5
Kyoto: 12
Nagoya: 8
Osaka: 8, 17
Saitama: 8, 17
Sendai: 5
Shiga: 8
Tokyo: 5, 8, 17, 25
Tsu: 5
NETHERLANDS
Amsterdam: 16, 18, 24
Rotterdam: 18
SINGAPORE
Singapore: 19
SPAIN
Illes Baleares: 33
Madrid: 33
SWITZERLAND
Basel: 7
Zurich: 5, 20
UNITED KINGDOM
Birmingham: 32
Cambridge: 19, 33, 35
Dundee: 33
Edinburgh: 6
Lancaster: 14
London: 2, 3, 6
Newcastle: 33
Oxford: 19
Sutton: 3
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
California
La Jolla: 27, 31
Malibu: 25
Pasadena: 16
Riverside: 29
San Francisco: 36
Santa Clara: 4
Stanford: 10, 25
Illinois
Chicago: 9
Evanston: 1
Urbana: 1
Indiana
Indianapolis: 2, 3
South Bend: 33
Massachusetts
Boston: 13
Cambridge: 13
Medford: 1
Michigan
Ann Arbor: 26, 28
Missouri
St Louis: 4
New Jersey
Princeton: 26
New York
Cold Spring Harbor: 13
New York: 13, 23
North Carolina
Chapel Hill: 9
Pennsylvania
Philadelphia: 1
Texas
Dallas: 31
Houston: 31
Virginia
Arlington: 1
Washington
Seattle: 4
PRESS CONTACTS…
For media inquiries relating to embargo policy for all the Nature Research Journals:
Rachel Twinn (Nature London)
Tel: +44 20 7843 4658; E-mail: [email protected]
Neda Afsarmanesh (Nature New York)
Tel: +1 212 726 9231; E-mail: [email protected]
Ruth Francis (Head of Press, Nature, London)
Tel: +44 20 7843 4562; E-mail: [email protected]
For media inquiries relating to editorial content/policy for the Nature Research Journals, please contact the journals individually:
Nature Biotechnology (New York)
Michael Francisco
Tel: +1 212 726 9288; E-mail: [email protected]
Nature Cell Biology (London)
Sowmya Swaminathan
Tel: +44 20 7843 4656; E-mail: [email protected]
Nature Chemical Biology (Boston)
Sarah Daniels
Tel: +1 617 475 9241, E-mail: [email protected]
Nature Chemistry (London)
Stuart Cantrill
Tel: +44 20 7014 4018; E-mail: [email protected]
Nature Genetics (New York)
Myles Axton
Tel: +1 212 726 9324; E-mail: [email protected]
Nature Geoscience (London)
Heike Langenberg
Tel: +44 20 7843 4042; E-mail: [email protected]
Nature Immunology (New York)
Laurie Dempsey
Tel: +1 212 726 9372; E-mail: [email protected]
Nature Materials (London)
Vincent Dusastre
Tel: +44 20 7843 4531; E-mail: [email protected]
Nature Medicine (New York)
Juan Carlos Lopez
Tel: +1 212 726 9325; E-mail: [email protected]
Nature Methods (New York)
Hugh Ash
Tel: +1 212 726 9627; E-mail: [email protected]
Nature Nanotechnology (London)
Peter Rodgers
Tel: +44 20 7014 4019; Email: [email protected]
Nature Neuroscience (New York)
Kalyani Narasimhan
Tel: +1 212 726 9319; E-mail: [email protected]
Nature Photonics (Tokyo)
Oliver Graydon
Tel: +81 3 3267 8776; E-mail: [email protected]
Nature Physics (London)
Alison Wright
Tel: +44 20 7843 4555; E-mail: [email protected]
Nature Structural & Molecular Biology (New York)
Sabbi Lall
Tel: +1 212 726 9326; E-mail: [email protected]
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