This press release contains:
---Summaries of newsworthy papers:
Geoscience: Aerosols enhance cloud development
Medicine: A molecular brake on dendritic cell activation
Genetics: Bacterial adaptation to host
Medicine: Take NO for an answer
Immunology: Harnessing chromatin regulators
---Mention of papers to be published at the same time with the same embargo
---Geographical listing of authors
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[1] Geoscience: Aerosols enhance cloud development
DOI: 10.1038/ngeo1313
Aerosols stimulate the vertical development of clouds containing liquid water and ice, reports a study published online this week in Nature Geoscience.
Zhanqing Li and colleagues use ten years of extensive ground-based data collected over the southern Great Plains of North America to show that aerosols stimulate the upward growth of warm-based clouds containing both water and ice. They also show that deep, water-laden clouds are associated with more frequent rainfall events.
Author contact:
Zhanqing Li (University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA)
Tel: +1 301 405 6699; Cell: +1 443 538 8185; E-mail: [email protected]
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[2] Medicine: A molecular brake on dendritic cell activation
DOI: 10.1038/nm.2556
A natural molecular brake in immune cells prevents autoimmune diabetes in mice, according to a report in Nature Medicine. These findings highlight one way in which the immune system prevents excessive activation and autoimmunity.
Dendritic cells are a type of immune cell that once activated, are critical for triggering an adaptive immune response. Most studies to date have focused on identifying factors that promote the maturation, activation and survival of dendritic cells.
Pamela Ohashi and her colleagues report that Nuclear Factor-kB1 (NF-kB1), a transcription factor that regulates inflammatory responses, is normally expressed in immature dendritic cells and holds them in a resting state. Dendritic cells lacking NF-kB1 become activated, release pro-inflammatory cytokines and stimulate T cell immune responses. In turn, these activated T cells attack pancreatic islets and cause autoimmune diabetes in mice.
Author contact:
Pamela Ohashi (University of Toronto, Canada)
Tel: +1 416 946 2357; E-mail: [email protected]
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[3] Genetics: Bacterial adaptation to host
DOI: 10.1038/ng.997
Whole-genome sequencing used to track the evolution of a bacterial pathogen during a Burkholderia dolosa outbreak amongst cystic fibrosis patients is reported this week in Nature Genetics. This provides an example of the utility of high-throughput sequencing technologies in a clinical epidemic setting and provides insights into pathogen genomic evolution during infection of their human hosts.
Roy Kishony and colleagues examined a historical epidemic of B. dolosa – that can cause pneumonia – that occurred amongst patients with cystic fibrosis tracked in a single Boston hospital in the 1990s. They sequenced the whole-genomes of B. dolosa isolates obtained from 14 cystic fibrosis patients from this outbreak, including 112 bacterial isolates collected over the course of 16 years. They conducted evolutionary and epidemiological analyses, and are able to infer the network of transmission amongst these patients. They further identified 17 genes as targets of selection, suggesting that they play a role in B. dolosa pathogenesis and adaptation to their human host.
Author contact:
Roy Kishony (Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA)
Tel: +1 617 432 6390; E-mail: [email protected]
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[4] Medicine: Take NO for an answer
DOI: 10.1038/nm.2544
Treatments that raise nitric oxide levels could be useful for treating a congenital metabolic disease, argininosuccinic aciduria (ASA), reports a study published online this week in Nature Medicine.
The enzyme that is defective in individuals with ASA, argininosuccinate lyase (ASL), generates the amino acid arginine, which is then used to make both nitric oxide, which regulates vascular function, and urea, which is used to dispose of waste nitrogen in the liver. Surprisingly, administration of the product of the defective enzyme, arginine, is not fully effective in treating individuals with ASA.
Based on studies in both a newly-generated mouse model of ASA and individuals with ASA, Brendan Lee and his colleagues found that the answer to this paradox is that ASL has an additional and unexpected role in making nitric oxide: it acts as a structural component of a multiprotein complex that converts arginine to nitric oxide. Because of ASL’s structural role, cells lacking the enzyme can’t make nitric oxide even if they are given arginine. To begin to translate these mechanistic studies into a therapy for ASA, the researchers showed that treatment of the ASA mouse model with an agent that raises nitric oxide levels, sodium nitrite, had beneficial effects on growth and survival.
Author contact:
Brendan Lee (Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA)
Tel: +1 713 798 8835; E-mail: [email protected]
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[5] Immunology: Harnessing chromatin regulators
DOI:10.1038/ni.2150
A report published in Nature Immunology provides clues about how certain T cell leukemias arise. The findings show how entire suites of genes can be switched on or off through the interactions of two chromatin binding proteins.
Katia Georgopoulos and colleagues previously showed that T cell leukemias frequently arise in mice lacking the transcription factor Ikaros, but how Ikaros suppressed leukemic transformation was unclear. They now show Ikaros restricts the activity of the chromatin remodeling protein Mi-2beta by comparing their genome-wide binding patterns in wild-type and mutant T cells.
During normal T cell development in the thymus, Ikaros recruits Mi-2beta to genes that direct T lymphocyte differentiation. At the same time, Ikaros tethering of Mi-2beta prevents its recruitment to genes that promote cell growth and division, hence ensuring that their expression remains low. The team notes that Ikaros-deficient cells show a redistribution of Mi-2beta binding to the proliferation-promoting genes, leading to their higher expression, and arrest of T cell development. They conclude that Ikaros harnesses Mi-2beta to a developmental program that also prevents runaway proliferation and leukemic transformation.
Author contact:
Katia Georgopoulos (Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA, USA)
Tel: +1 617 726 4445; E-mail: [email protected]
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Nature
[6] Neuronal filtering of multiplexed odour representations
DOI: 10.1038/nature10633
[7] Dendritic cells control lymphocyte entry to lymph nodes through high endothelial venules
DOI: 10.1038/nature10540
[8] Regulatory evolution through divergence of a phosphoswitch in the transcription factor CEBPB
DOI: 10.1038/nature10595
[9] Structure of full-length Drosophila cryptochrome
DOI: 10.1038/nature10618
[10] A novel recurrent mutation in MITF predisposes to familial and sporadic melanoma
DOI: 10.1038/nature10630
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NATURE BIOTECHNOLOGY
[11] Single-cell dissection of transcriptional heterogeneity in human colon tumors
DOI: 10.1038/nbt.2038
[12] Targeted RNA sequencing reveals the deep complexity of the human transcriptome
DOI: 10.1038/nbt.2024
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NATURE CELL BIOLOGY
[13] Fibroblast polarization is a matrix-rigidity-dependent process controlled by focal adhesion mechanosensing
DOI: 10.1038/ncb2370
[14] K-fibre minus ends are stabilized by a RanGTP-dependent mechanism essential for functional spindle assembly
DOI: 10.1038/ncb2372
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NATURE CHEMICAL BIOLOGY
[15] Deciphering the transcriptional regulatory logic of amino acid metabolism
DOI: 10.1038/nchembio.710
[16] A neutral diphosphate mimic crosslinks the active site of human O-GlcNAc transferase
DOI: 10.1038/nchembio.711
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NATURE CHEMISTRY
[17] Single-chain technology using discrete synthetic macromolecules
DOI: 10.1038/nchem.1175
[18] A total-synthesis framework for the construction of high-order colloidal hybrid nanoparticles
DOI: 10.1038/nchem.1195
[19] Synthesis and structure of solution-stable one-dimensional palladium wires
DOI: 10.1038/nchem.1197
[20] Dynamic multi-component covalent assembly for the reversible binding of secondary alcohols and chirality sensing
DOI: 10.1038/nchem.1198
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NATURE CLIMATE CHANGE (http://www.nature.com/nclimate)
[21] Ocean carbon uptake and storage influenced by wind bias in global climate models
DOI: 10.1038/nclimate1289
[22] An integrated approach to energy sustainability
DOI: 10.1038/nclimate1297
[23] Removing the baseline
DOI: 10.1038/nclimate1296
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NATURE GENETICS
[24] Predicting phenotypic variation in yeast from individual genome sequences
DOI: 10.1038/ng.1007
[25] Genome-wide association study identifies FCGR2A as a susceptibility locus for Kawasaki disease
DOI: 10.1038/ng.981
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NATURE GEOSCIENCE
[26] Isotopic evaluation of ocean circulation in the Late Cretaceous North American seaway
DOI: 10.1038/ngeo1312
[27] Mesospheric electric breakdown and delayed sprite ignition caused by electron detachment
DOI: 10.1038/ngeo1314
[28] Emplacement of massive turbidites linked to extinction of turbulence in turbidity currents
DOI: 10.1038/ngeo1320
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NATURE IMMUNOLOGY
[29] TGF-beta induces the expression of the adaptor Ndfip1 to silence IL-4 production during iTreg cell differentiation
DOI: 10.1038/ni.2154
NATURE MATERIALS
[30] Fano-resonant asymmetric metamaterials for ultrasensitive spectroscopy and identification of molecular monolayers
DOI: 10.1038/nmat3161
[31] Magnetoelastic metamaterials
DOI: 10.1038/nmat3168
[32] Electric-field-assisted switching in magnetic tunnel junctions
DOI: 10.1038/nmat3171
[33] Induction of coherent magnetization switching in a few atomic layers of FeCo using voltage pulses
DOI: 10.1038/nmat3172
[34] Conductive dense hydrogen
DOI: 10.1038/nmat3175
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NATURE MEDICINE
[35] Oxidation of CaMKII determines cardiotoxic effects of aldosterone
DOI: 10.1038/nm.2506
[36] A hepatocyte growth factor receptor (Met)−insulin receptor hybrid governs hepatic glucose metabolism
DOI: 10.1038/nm.2531
[37] A MEK-independent role for CRAF in mitosis and tumor progression
DOI: 10.1038/nm.2464
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NATURE METHODS
[38] Cyanine fluorophore derivatives with enhanced photostability
DOI: 10.1038/nmeth.1774
[39] Embryonic stem cell-based system for mapping developmental transcriptional programs
DOI: 10.1038/nmeth.1775
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NATURE NANOTECHNOLOGY
[40] Mapping nanomechanical properties of live cells using multi-harmonic atomic force microscopy
DOI: 10.1038/nnano.2011.186
[41] One- and two-dimensional photonic crystal microcavities in single crystal diamond
DOI: 10.1038/nnano.2011.190
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Nature NEUROSCIENCE
[42] Inactivity-induced increase in nAChRs upregulates Shal K+ channels to stabilize synaptic potentials
DOI:10.1038/nn.2969
[43] Flexible, foldable, actively multiplexed, high-density electrode array for mapping brain activity in vivo
DOI:10.1038/nn.2973
[44] Cytokinesis remnants define first neuronal asymmetry in vivo
DOI:10.1038/nn.2976
[45] Leptin regulates the reward value of nutrient
DOI:10.1038/nn.2977
[46] Nictation, a dispersal behavior of the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans, is regulated by IL2 neurons
DOI:10.1038/nn.2975
[47] Experience-dependent plasticity of mature adult-born neurons
DOI:10.1038/nn.2980
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NATURE PHOTONICS
[48] Observation of bright solitons in a semiconductor microcavity
DOI: 10.1038/nphoton.2011.267
[49] On-chip optical isolation in monolithically integrated non-reciprocal optical resonators
DOI: 10.1038/nphoton.2011.270
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Nature PHYSICS
[50] Collisionless shocks in laser-produced plasma generate monoenergetic high-energy proton beams
DOI: 10.1038/nphys2130
Nature STRUCTURAL & MOLECULAR BIOLOGY
[51] Formaldehyde catabolism is essential in cells deficient for the Fanconi anemia DNA-repair pathway
DOI: 10.1038/nsmb.2173
[52] RNA targets of wild-type and mutant FET family proteins
DOI: 10.1038/nsmb.2163
[53] The elongation rate of RNA polymerase determines the fate of transcribed nucleosomes
DOI: 10.1038/nsmb.2164
[54] The Chp1–Tas3 core is a multifunctional platform critical for gene silencing by RITS
DOI: 10.1038/nsmb.2151
[55] NSP-Cas protein structures reveal a promiscuous interaction module in cell signaling
DOI: 10.1038/nsmb.2152
[56] Recognition of enhancer element–specific histone methylation by TIP60 in transcriptional activation
DOI: 10.1038/nsmb.2153
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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.
ARGENTINA
Rio Negro: 28
AUSTRALIA
Adelaide: 25
Brisbane: 10, 11, 25
Canberra: 31
Carlton: 10
Melbourne: 10, 25
Newcastle: 25
Parkville: 25
Perth: 25
Randwick: 25
Sydney: 10, 25
Westmead: 10
AUSTRIA
Graz: 22
Laxenburg: 22
BELGIUM
Leuven: 6, 35, 44
CANADA:
Montreal: 13, 25
Toronto: 2, 25
Victoria: 21
CHINA
Beijing: 1, 43
Nanjing: 1
Shanghai: 25
FRANCE
Strasbourg: 17
Toulouse: 7
GERMANY
Augsburg: 41
Berlin: 48
Dusseldorf: 52
Freiburg: 41
Kaiserslautern: 41
Mainz: 34
Nuremberg: 6
Saarbrucken: 41
HONG KONG
Hong Kong: 25
ISRAEL
Jerusalem: 1, 47
Rehovot: 13
ITALY
Florence: 25
JAPAN
Ibaraki: 33
Inage-ku: 28
Kanagawa: 5
Kawaguchi: 33
Kyoto: 17, 51
Osaka: 33
KOREA
Busan: 25
Daejeon: 15, 25
Gangneung: 25
Seoul: 25, 43, 46
Yongin: 15
NETHERLANDS
Amsterdam: 25
Hague: 25
Maastricht: 35
Utrecht: 11, 35
POLAND
Wroclaw: 53
PORTUGAL
Lisbon: 50
SINGAPORE
Singapore: 13, 25
SPAIN
Barcelona: 14, 24
Granada: 27
Madrid: 44
SWITZERLAND
Basel: 6
TAIWAN
Changhua: 25
Kaohsiung: 25
Linkou: 25
Taichung: 25
Taipei: 25
UNITED KINGDOM
Bath: 48
Bristol: 25
Cambridge: 10, 51
Leeds: 10
London: 25
Oxford: 40
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
Arizona
Phoenix: 10
California
Berkeley: 53
Davis: 22
La Jolla: 15, 25, 37, 55
Los Angeles: 25, 50, 56
Pasadena: 53
San Diego: 25, 55
Stanford: 6, 11, 45, 53
Colorado
Boulder: 43
Fort Collins: 42
Connecticut
New Haven: 8, 45
Delaware
Newark: 49
Florida
Gainesville: 28
Jupiter: 5
Georgia
Atlanta: 4
Hawaii
Honolulu: 25
Idaho
Boise: 26
Illinois
Evanston: 43
Chicago: 5, 25
Urbana: 28, 43
Indiana
West Lafayette: 40
Iowa
Iowa City: 35
Kansas
Hays: 26
Maryland
Annapolis: 43
Baltimore: 32
Chevy Chase: 11
College Park: 1
Frederick: 53
Gaithersburg: 10
Massachusetts
Boston: 3, 10, 13, 16, 25, 30
Cambridge: 3, 5, 12, 16, 19, 39, 49
Charlestown: 5
Michigan
Ann Arbor: 3
Minnesota
Minneapolis: 39
St. Paul: 28
New York
Brooklyn: 43
Cold Spring Harbor: 53
Ithaca: 9
New York: 9, 38, 39, 43, 45, 52
Upton: 1, 55
Ohio
Columbus: 35
Pennsylvania
Philadelphia: 29, 43
Pittsburgh: 36
University Park: 18
South Carolina
Clemson: 26
Tennessee
Memphis: 53
Nashville: 4
Texas
Austin: 20, 28, 30
Houston: 4, 28
Virginia
Charlottesville: 3
Washington
Richland: 1
Wisconsin
Madison: 12
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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)
Elissa Bolt
Tel: +1 617 475 9241, E-mail: [email protected]
Nature Chemistry (London)
Stuart Cantrill
Tel: +44 20 7014 4018; E-mail: [email protected]
Nature Climate Change (London)
Olive Heffernan
Tel: +44 20 7014 4009; 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]
NOTE: Once a paper is published, the digital object identifier (DOI) number can be used to retrieve the abstract and full text from the journal web site (abstracts are available to everyone, full text is available only to subscribers). To do this, add the DOI to the following URL: http://dx.doi.org/ (For example, http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/ng730).
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