Nature Communications - 18 December 2012

Weekly Content Alert 18 December 2012 Featured image: Osanai-Futahashi et al. present a marker system for the identification of genetically modified insects based on changes in melanin pigmentation. Latest content: Review Articles Journal homepage Recommend to library Web feed   Advertisement Nature Medicine ePOSTER ON METABOLIC SYNDROME Published originally in 2011, the 2012 version of the ePoster features a new organ -- the pancreas -- plus updates for the existing organs to reflect key advances of the past year. www.nature.com/nm/poster Sponsored by     Latest Review View all Reviews     Low-mass black holes as the remnants of primordial black hole formation Jenny E. Greene Between low-end stellar-mass black holes and top-end supermassive black holes, lie the elusive intermediate black holes. Jenny Greene reviews the search for these black holes in galaxy centres, which should indicate if supermassive black holes grew from stellar-mass ones or if a more complex process was needed. 18 Dec | Nat Commun 3:1304 doi:10.1038/ncomms2314 (2012) Physical sciences Astronomy  Abstract | Full Text | PDF (597 kB)       Latest Articles View all Articles     Transmembrane insertion of twin-arginine signal peptides is driven by TatC and regulated by TatB  OPEN Julia Fröbel, Patrick Rose, Frank Lausberg, Anne-Sophie Blümmel, Roland Freudl and Matthias Müller TatA, B and C act together to translocate folded proteins across bacterial and chloroplast membranes, however the precise mechanism remains unclear. Fröbel and colleagues discover that TatC has unforeseen membrane insertase activity, while TatB prevents premature cleavage before translocation. 18 Dec | Nat Commun 3:1311 doi:10.1038/ncomms2308 (2012) Biological sciences Biochemistry  Cell biology  Abstract | Full Text | PDF (801 kB) | Supplementary Information Plasmodium falciparum  heat shock protein 110 stabilizes the asparagine repeat-rich parasite proteome during malarial fevers Vasant Muralidharan, Anna Oksman, Priya Pal, Susan Lindquist and Daniel E. Goldberg The proteome of the malarial parasite Plasmodium falciparum has an overabundance of aggregation-prone asparagine repeat-containing proteins. Muralidharan et al. show that Plasmodium Hsp110 protein potently prevents aggregation of asparagine-rich proteins, thereby allowing the parasite to survive febrile episodes. 18 Dec | Nat Commun 3:1310 doi:10.1038/ncomms2306 (2012) Biological sciences Biochemistry  Cell biology Microbiology  Abstract | Full Text | PDF (1,888 kB) | Supplementary Information Dissociation dynamics of singly charged vortices into half-quantum vortex pairs F. Manni, K. G. Lagoudakis, T. C. H Liew, R. André, V. Savona and B. Deveaud Half-quantized vortices are the fundamental topological excitations of a two-component superfluid, however, probing the dynamics of their formation is challenging. Manni et al. report real-time observations of polariton vortices unbinding into half-quantized vortex pairs in an exciton-polariton condensate. 18 Dec | Nat Commun 3:1309 doi:10.1038/ncomms2310 (2012) Physical sciences Condensed matter Abstract | Full Text | PDF (1,695 kB) | Supplementary Information Above-room-temperature ferroelectricity and antiferroelectricity in benzimidazoles OPEN Sachio Horiuchi, Fumitaka Kagawa, Kensuke Hatahara, Kensuke Kobayashi, Reiji Kumai, Youichi Murakami and Yoshinori Tokura There are only a few known organic ferroelectrics, particularly ones that operate at high temperatures. Here the discovery of ferroelectricity above room temperature in members of an ubiquitous family of organic molecules reveals the possibility of novel low-cost electronic applications. 18 Dec | Nat Commun 3:1308 doi:10.1038/ncomms2322 (2012) Physical sciences Condensed matter  Organic chemistry Abstract | Full Text | PDF (1,606 kB) | Supplementary Information A role for calpain-dependent cleavage of TDP-43 in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis pathology Takenari Yamashita, Takuto Hideyama, Kosuke Hachiga, Sayaka Teramoto, Jiro Takano, Nobuhisa Iwata, Takaomi C. Saido and Shin Kwak The mislocalization and downregulation of the proteins TDP-43 and ADAR2, respectively, are implicated in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis pathology. Yamashita et al. find that downregulation of ADAR2 results in calcium-permeable AMPA receptor-mediated calpain activation and subsequent aberrant cleavage of TDP-43. 18 Dec | Nat Commun 3:1307 doi:10.1038/ncomms2303 (2012) Biological sciences Cell biology  Medical research Neuroscience Abstract | Full Text | PDF (2,735 kB) | Supplementary Information Spread of white-nose syndrome on a network regulated by geography and climate Sean P. Maher, Andrew M. Kramer, J. Tomlin Pulliam, Marcus A. Zokan, Sarah E. Bowden, Heather D. Barton, Krisztian Magori and John M. Drake Knowledge of how a disease spreads can lead to useful predictions to help manage and contain it. Here, Maher et al. model white-nose syndrome spreading in North American bats, and show that concentrated habitat distribution and longer winters can mediate pathogen dispersal, matching the ecological traits of bats. 18 Dec | Nat Commun 3:1306 doi:10.1038/ncomms2301 (2012) Biological sciences Ecology  Zoology Abstract | Full Text | PDF (598 kB) | Supplementary Information Predator richness increases the effect of prey diversity on prey yield Muhammad Saleem, Ingo Fetzer, Carsten F. Dormann, Hauke Harms and Antonis Chatzinotas The functioning of bacterial communities is affected by selection, but the role of predation by single or multiple predators is unclear. In a study of 465 bacterial microcosms, Saleem et al. find that multiple predation causes positive bacterial diversity effects due to increased evenness among bacterial species. 18 Dec | Nat Commun 3:1305 doi:10.1038/ncomms2287 (2012) Biological sciences Ecology  Microbiology Abstract | Full Text | PDF (771 kB) | Supplementary Information Virus-like glycodendrinanoparticles displaying quasi-equivalent nested polyvalency upon glycoprotein platforms potently block viral infection OPEN Renato Ribeiro-Viana, Macarena Sánchez-Navarro, Joanna Luczkowiak, Julia R. Koeppe, Rafael Delgado, Javier Rojo and Benjamin G. Davis Host—pathogen relationships can be mediated by polyvalent glycan ligand—protein interactions. Here well-defined highly valent glycodendrimeric constructs are synthesized that can mimic pathogens, and can inhibit a model of infection by the Ebola virus. 18 Dec | Nat Commun 3:1303 doi:10.1038/ncomms2302 (2012) Chemical sciences Chemical biology Medicinal chemistry Virology Abstract | Full Text | PDF (1,656 kB) | Supplementary Information The developmental basis of bat wing muscle Masayoshi Tokita, Takaaki Abe and Kazuo Suzuki Phylogenetic bat studies suggest that powered flight is evolutionarily conserved. Tokita et al. find that bat wing muscles are derived from multiple myogenic sources with different embryonic origins, and that spatiotemporal correlations exist between outgrowth of wing membranes and expansion of wing muscles. 18 Dec | Nat Commun 3:1302 doi:10.1038/ncomms2298 (2012) Biological sciences Developmental biology  Zoology Abstract | Full Text | PDF (2,507 kB) | Supplementary Information Proteome-wide selected reaction monitoring assays for the human pathogen Streptococcus pyogenes  OPEN Christofer Karlsson, Lars Malmström, Ruedi Aebersold and Johan Malmström Selected reaction monitoring mass spectrometry (SRM-MS) can quantify dynamic changes in protein expression with high sensitivity. Karlsson et al. define optimal detection parameters for 10,412 distinct group A Streptococcus pyogenes peptides, which facilitates proteome-wide SRM-MS studies in this bacterium. 18 Dec | Nat Commun 3:1301 doi:10.1038/ncomms2297 (2012) Biological sciences Microbiology  Systems biology Abstract | Full Text | PDF (1,167 kB) | Supplementary Information PPARγ is an E3 ligase that induces the degradation of NFκB/p65 Yongzhong Hou, France Moreau and Kris Chadee NFκB/p65 and PPARγ are both transcription factors that perform distinct but overlapping roles in cellular regulation. Hou et al. report that PPARγ acts as an E3 ubiquitin ligase and promotes Lys48-linked ubiquitination and degradation of p65, terminating NFκB-mediated inflammation and tumorigenesis. 18 Dec | Nat Commun 3:1300 doi:10.1038/ncomms2270 (2012) Biological sciences Cell biology  Immunology Molecular biology  Abstract | Full Text | PDF (2,222 kB) | Supplementary Information Bolaform surfactants with polyoxometalate head groups and their assembly into ultra-small monolayer membrane vesicles OPEN Steve Landsmann, Martin Luka and Sebastian Polarz Bolaform amphiphiles are surfactants with two hydrophilic end groups, known to form stable micelles. Polarz et al. have synthesized dipolar bolaform surfactants with polyoxometallate head groups, which have a very low self-organization concentration and form nanoscale monolayer vesicles. 18 Dec | Nat Commun 3:1299 doi:10.1038/ncomms2321 (2012) Chemical sciences Inorganic chemistry  Materials science  Abstract | Full Text | PDF (1,936 kB) | Supplementary Information Probing the catalytic activity of porous graphene oxide and the origin of this behaviour Chenliang Su, Muge Acik, Kazuyuki Takai, Jiong Lu, Si-jia Hao, Yi Zheng, Pingping Wu, Qiaoliang Bao, Toshiaki Enoki, Yves J. Chabal and Kian Ping Loh Graphene oxide has been proposed as an alternative to precious metals for the catalysis of aerobic oxidative reactions; however, high catalyst loadings are needed. Here a simple base and acid treatment is shown to enhance its catalytic activity for the oxidative coupling of amines under ambient conditions. 18 Dec | Nat Commun 3:1298 doi:10.1038/ncomms2315 (2012) Chemical sciences Catalysis  Abstract | Full Text | PDF (2,476 kB) | Supplementary Information CRT1 is a nuclear-translocated MORC endonuclease that participates in multiple levels of plant immunity Hong-Gu Kang, Hyong Woo Choi, Sabrina von Einem, Patricia Manosalva, Katrin Ehlers, Po-Pu Liu, Stefanie V. Buxa, Magali Moreau, Hyong-Gon Mang, Pradeep Kachroo, Karl-Heinz Kogel and Daniel F. Klessig The CRT1 gene in Arabidopsis confers effector-triggered immunity. Here Kang et al. show that CRT1 has a broader endonuclease role in plant innate immunity, including basal, non-host and systemic acquired resistance, and becomes partially localized to the nucleus upon immune receptor activation. 18 Dec | Nat Commun 3:1297 doi:10.1038/ncomms2279 (2012) Biological sciences Cell biology  Immunology Plant sciences Abstract | Full Text | PDF (1,490 kB) | Supplementary Information DJ-1 promotes angiogenesis and osteogenesis by activating FGF receptor-1 signaling Jung-Min Kim, Hong-In Shin, Sun-Shin Cha, Chang Sup Lee, Bok Sil Hong, Seyoung Lim, Hyun-Jun Jang, Jaeyoon Kim, Yong Ryoul Yang, Yun-Hee Kim, Sanguk Yun, Girdhari Rijal, Whaseon Lee-Kwon, Jeong Kon Seo, Yong Song Gho, Sung Ho Ryu, Eun-Mi Hur and Pann-Ghill Suh Osteoblasts and endothelial cells have important roles in bone regeneration. Kim and colleagues identify the protein DJ-1 as an angiogenic and osteogenic signalling molecule involved in the cross-talk between these cells and show that DJ-1 promotes bone regeneration and fracture healing in mice. 18 Dec | Nat Commun 3:1296 doi:10.1038/ncomms2313 (2012) Biological sciences Cell biology  Medical research Abstract | Full Text | PDF (1,832 kB) | Supplementary Information A visible dominant marker for insect transgenesis OPEN Mizuko Osanai-Futahashi, Takahiro Ohde, Junya Hirata, Keiro Uchino, Ryo Futahashi, Toshiki Tamura, Teruyuki Niimi and Hideki Sezutsu Genetic modification in insects mostly involves the use of fluorescent markers to identify successful transformation. Here Osanai-Futahashi et al. report a marker system based on changes in melanin pigmentation that allows the identification of genetically modified insects with the naked eye. 18 Dec | Nat Commun 3:1295 doi:10.1038/ncomms2312 (2012) Biological sciences Biotechnology  Genetics Abstract | Full Text | PDF (2,288 kB) | Supplementary Information Fossil pollen records reveal a late rise of open-habitat ecosystems in Patagonia Luis Palazzesi and Viviana Barreda The rise of open-habitat ecosystems in southern South America is thought to have occurred with the spread of hypsodont mammals 26 million years ago. In this study, the fossil record of plants preserved in Patagonia suggests that open-habitat ecosystems emerged 15 million years later than previously assumed. 18 Dec | Nat Commun 3:1294 doi:10.1038/ncomms2299 (2012) Biological sciences Evolution  Palaeontology Plant sciences Abstract | Full Text | PDF (717 kB) | Supplementary Information Recent patterns of crop yield growth and stagnation Deepak K. Ray, Navin Ramankutty, Nathaniel D. Mueller, Paul C. West and Jonathan A. Foley Demand for crops is increasing, but it is not clear whether the yields can meet this demand. Using crop yield observations, this study analyses global trends and finds that while yields continue to increase in some areas, across 24–39% of crop-growing regions, yields have stagnated or declined over the past 50 years. 18 Dec | Nat Commun 3:1293 doi:10.1038/ncomms2296 (2012) Biological sciences Ecology  Plant sciences Abstract | Full Text | PDF (1,407 kB) | Supplementary Information Rapamycin reverses impaired social interaction in mouse models of tuberous sclerosis complex OPEN Atsushi Sato, Shinya Kasai, Toshiyuki Kobayashi, Yukio Takamatsu, Okio Hino, Kazutaka Ikeda and Masashi Mizuguchi Tuberous sclerosis complex is an autosomal dominant cognitive disorder caused by mutations affecting TSC genes. Sato and colleagues examine tuberous sclerosis complex mutant mice and find that the behavioural and anatomical abnormalities can be reversed by inhibiting rapamycin-sensitive signalling pathways, even in adulthood. 18 Dec | Nat Commun 3:1292 doi:10.1038/ncomms2295 (2012) Biological sciences Medical research  Neuroscience  Abstract | Full Text | PDF (525 kB) | Supplementary Information Elevated oncofoetal miR-17-5p expression regulates colorectal cancer progression by repressing its target gene P130 Yanlei Ma, Peng Zhang, Feng Wang, Huizhen Zhang, Yongzhi Yang, Chenzhang Shi, Yang Xia, Jiayuan Peng, Weijie Liu, Zhe Yang and Huanlong Qin Tumorigenesis has been likened to a form of cellular reversion to the embryonic state. Ma et al. identify a foetal miRNA as an oncogenic activator of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway in colorectal cancer, whose expression is negatively correlated with survival but is positively correlated with response to adjuvant chemotherapy. 18 Dec | Nat Commun 3:1291 doi:10.1038/ncomms2276 (2012) Biological sciences Cancer  Molecular biology  Abstract | Full Text | PDF (4,811 kB) | Supplementary Information Overcurvature describes the buckling and folding of rings from curved origami to foldable tents OPEN Pierre-Olivier Mouthuy, Michael Coulombier, Thomas Pardoen, Jean-Pierre Raskin and Alain M. Jonas Although foldable structures have found a widespread use in daily life, for example as popup tents, their mathematical properties have been difficult to describe. Mouthuy et al. here present an analytical model that reproduces quantitatively the shape and buckling behaviour of foldable items. 18 Dec | Nat Commun 3:1290 doi:10.1038/ncomms2311 (2012) Physical sciences Theoretical physics  Abstract | Full Text | PDF (1,977 kB) | Supplementary Information Extracting net current from an upstream neutral mode in the fractional quantum Hall regime I. Gurman, R. Sabo, M. Heiblum, V. Umansky and D. Mahalu One of the many exotic characteristics of systems that exhibit the fractional quantum Hall effect is the presence of chiral edge modes that carry energy but no net charge. Gurman et al. demonstrate the use of quantum dots to transform this energy into a measurable current, enabling them to better probe these modes. 18 Dec | Nat Commun 3:1289 doi:10.1038/ncomms2305 (2012) Physical sciences Condensed matter  Abstract | Full Text | PDF (1,165 kB) | Supplementary Information Catalytic site remodelling of the DOT1L methyltransferase by selective inhibitors Wenyu Yu, Emma J. Chory, Amy K. Wernimont, Wolfram Tempel, Alex Scopton, Alexander Federation, Jason J. Marineau, Jun Qi, Dalia Barsyte-Lovejoy, Joanna Yi, Richard Marcellus, Roxana E. Iacob, John R. Engen, Carly Griffin, Ahmed Aman, Erno Wienholds, Fengling Li, Javier Pineda, Guillermina Estiu, Tatiana Shatseva, Taraneh Hajian, Rima Al-awar, John E. Dick, Masoud Vedadi, Peter J. Brown, Cheryl H. Arrowsmith, James E. Bradner and Matthieu Schapira Selective inhibitors of protein methyltransferases are anticancer drug candidates. Yu et al. report the structural changes that occur when selective inhibitors bind to the protein methyltransferase DOT1L. 18 Dec | Nat Commun 3:1288 doi:10.1038/ncomms2304 (2012) Biological sciences Chemical biology  Abstract | Full Text | PDF (2,645 kB) | Supplementary Information Magneto-optical properties of trions in non-blinking charged nanocrystals reveal an acoustic phonon bottleneck Mark J. Fernée, Chiara Sinito, Yann Louyer, Christian Potzner, Tich-Lam Nguyen, Paul Mulvaney, Philippe Tamarat and Brahim Lounis Colloidal quantum dots may be used in a variety of emerging technologies, particularly if charged states can be stabilized. Here, cadmium selenide core-shell nanocrystals are engineered for trion emission at low temperatures, and their finite size introduces an acoustic phonon bottleneck, inhibiting spin relaxation. 18 Dec | Nat Commun 3:1287 doi:10.1038/ncomms2300 (2012) Physical sciences Condensed matter  Abstract | Full Text | PDF (1,251 kB) Homo-coupling of terminal alkynes on a noble metal surface Yi-Qi Zhang, Nenad Kepčija, Martin Kleinschrodt, Katharina Diller, Sybille Fischer, Anthoula C. Papageorgiou, Francesco Allegretti, Jonas Björk, Svetlana Klyatskaya, Florian Klappenberger, Mario Ruben and Johannes V. Barth Acetylenes can be covalently linked by oxidative coupling reactions. Zhang et al. report terminal alkyne Csp-H bond activation and concomitant homo-coupling on a silver surface, yielding polymeric networks with a conjugated backbone. 18 Dec | Nat Commun 3:1286 doi:10.1038/ncomms2291 (2012) Chemical sciences Organic chemistry  Abstract | Full Text | PDF (1,704 kB) | Supplementary Information ASK3 responds to osmotic stress and regulates blood pressure by suppressing WNK1-SPAK/OSR1 signaling in the kidney Isao Naguro, Tsuyoshi Umeda, Yumie Kobayashi, Junichi Maruyama, Kazuki Hattori, Yutaka Shimizu, Keiichiro Kataoka, Shokei Kim-Mitsuyama, Shinichi Uchida, Alain Vandewalle, Takuya Noguchi, Hideki Nishitoh, Atsushi Matsuzawa, Kohsuke Takeda and Hidenori Ichijo Cells must be able to sense and respond to changes in osmotic pressure, which can be lethal. Here, Naguro and colleagues reveal a role for the protein kinase ASK3 in sensing osmotic stress in the mouse kidney and show that ASK3 contributes to the regulation of blood pressure. 18 Dec | Nat Commun 3:1285 doi:10.1038/ncomms2283 (2012) Biological sciences Biophysics  Cell biology  Abstract | Full Text | PDF (1,399 kB) | Supplementary Information Sequential then interactive processing of letters and words in the left fusiform gyrus Thomas Thesen, Carrie R. McDonald, Chad Carlson, Werner Doyle, Syd Cash, Jason Sherfey, Olga Felsovalyi, Holly Girard, William Barr, Orrin Devinsky, Ruben Kuzniecky and Eric Halgren Reading requires accurate and rapid distinction between similar visual stimuli. Thesen and colleagues use human intracranial electrophysiology and brain imaging to show that letter-selective responses, in an area of the brain immediately posterior to the visual word-form area, occur before word selection. 18 Dec | Nat Commun 3:1284 doi:10.1038/ncomms2220 (2012) Biological sciences Neuroscience  Abstract | Full Text | PDF (1,930 kB) | Supplementary Information Multiplexed volumetric bar-chart chip for point-of-care diagnostics OPEN Yujun Song, Yuanqing Zhang, Paul E. Bernard, James M. Reuben, Naoto T. Ueno, Ralph B. Arlinghaus, Youli Zu and Lidong Qin Diagnostic microfluidic devices often require complicated optical systems and computers to quantify results. Here, Qin and colleagues link enzymatic biomarker detection with the displacement of ink, resulting in a device that displays quantitative results as bar graphs directly on the device. 18 Dec | Nat Commun 3:1283 doi:10.1038/ncomms2292 (2012) Biological sciences Analytical chemistry  Biochemistry  Abstract | Full Text | PDF (2,433 kB) | Supplementary Information Delivery of chemotherapeutic drugs in tumour cell-derived microparticles Ke Tang, Yi Zhang, Huafeng Zhang, Pingwei Xu, Jing Liu, Jingwei Ma, Meng Lv, Dapeng Li, Foad Katirai, Guan-Xin Shen, Guimei Zhang, Zuo-Hua Feng, Duyun Ye and Bo Huang Microparticles are small vesicular structures that are shed from cellular plasma membranes. Tang and colleagues show that cells treated with chemotherapeutic drugs produce drug-containing microparticles, which can be used as anticancer agents in mice. 18 Dec | Nat Commun 3:1282 doi:10.1038/ncomms2282 (2012) Biological sciences Biotechnology  Cancer  Abstract | Full Text | PDF (2,127 kB) | Supplementary Information   Nature Communications JOBS of the week Lead World-Changing Research to Improve Health Outcomes University of Sydney Postdoc Evolutionary Genetics Jagiellonian University in Krakow Assistant or Associate Professor (Tenure-track) Louisiana State Univeristy Postdoctoral Research Associate Aston University, School of Life and Health Sciences Research Technician III Baylor College of Medicine (BCM) Assistant Professor Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico ERC-funded Post-doctoral Fellow in Immunology and / or Genetics CeMM - Research Center for Molecular Medicine of the Austrian Academy of Sciences Post-doctoral Researcher University of Helsinki Post Doctoral Research Associate The Open University Investigator Scientist Medical Research Council More Science jobs from Nature Communications EVENT Targeting Cancer Drug Resistance 28.05.13 Chicago, US More science events from     Natureevents is a fully searchable, multi-disciplinary database designed to maximise exposure for events organisers. 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