PASTE: a high-throughput method for large DNA insertions

Prime editing (PE) enables precise genome editing at targeted locus without inducing double-stranded breaks (DSBs). Despite its precision, PE lacks the tendency to integrate large DNA fragments into the genome. Recently, Yarnall et al. reported clustered regularly interspaced palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/Cas9 and an integrase-based system that conducts targeted integration of large DNA sequences (~36 kb) into the genome more efficiently.     

Viral vectors as carriers of genome-editing reagents

The presence of a transgene in the genome of plants is a regulatory challenge. Recently, Liu et al. reported an engineered tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV) that can carry large clustered regularly interspaced palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/Cas reagents for targeted genome editing in various crops without the integration of the transgene into the genome.     

Dual function of the CHS3-CSA1 immune receptor pair

Plant nucleotide-binding leucine-rich repeat (NLR) receptors mediate specific recognition of pathogen effectors to initiate effector-triggered immunity. Recently, studies by Schulze et al., Yang et al., and Gu et al. collectively show that the Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) NLR pair CHS3-CSA1 acts through two distinct activation modes to recognize different pathogen effectors, thus revealing the dual function of the CHS3-CSA1 pair in plant disease resistance.     

Protein circuit design using de novo proteins

Protein-based biological circuits enable customized control of cellular functions, and de novo protein design enables circuit functionalities that are not possible by repurposing natural proteins. Here, I highlight recent progress in protein circuit design, including CHOMP, developed by Gao et al., and SPOC, developed by Fink et al.     

Viral sponges sequester nucleotide signals to inactivate immunity

Bacteria synthesize specialized nucleotide signals to control anti-phage defense. Two papers – by Huiting et al. and Jenson et al. – now reveal that bacteriophages encode protein ‘sponges’ that sequester cyclic oligonucleotide immune signals and inactivate host antiviral immunity.     

Feeding the world sustainably: efficient nitrogen use

Globally, overuse of nitrogen (N) fertilizers in croplands is causing severe environmental pollution. In this context, Gu et al. suggest environmentally friendly and cost-effective N management practices and Hamani et al. highlight the use of microbial inoculants to improve crop yields, while reducing N-associated environmental pollution and N-fertilizer use.     

pH regulates peptide–receptor perception

Diverse plant small peptides are perceived by their corresponding receptors to mediate local or long-distance intercellular communications in various developmental and adaptive programs; notably, the mechanisms of peptide–receptor perception remain largely unrevealed. Two reports (Liu et al.; Diaz-Ardila et al.) shed light on how pH regulates peptide–receptor perception.     

Plants 'cry' for help through acoustic signals

Plants perceive sounds, while responses to these sounds were already known. A breakthrough is the discovery by Khait et al. that stressed plants emit various informative ultrasonic sound signals, which can be categorized according to plant species, stress type, and stress severity. This discovery may change how plants are cultivated.     

Conferring resistance to parasitic witchweed by shifting strigolactone biosynthesis

Strigolactones from the exudates of maize root induce germination of the parasitic witchweed Striga. Recently, Li et al. characterized the biosynthesis pathway of two strigolactones, zealactol and zealactonoic acid, which induce less Striga germination than the major maize strigolactone, zealactone. This study provides a promising strategy for plant protection against parasitic witchweed.     

Liver-stage Plasmodium infection tunes clinical outcomes

Chora and colleagues show that infection of the liver by Plasmodium modulates severity of disease in the experimental cerebral malaria (ECM) model by generating gamma delta (ɣδ) T cells that produce IL-17. This work calls into question the long-standing assumption that liver infection does not modulate severity of malaria.     

Actin subversion for productive Plasmodium hepatocyte invasion

Productive invasion of hepatocytes by Plasmodium sporozoites is a key step of infection. The parasites traverse hepatocytes before targeting one of them to form a parasitophorous vacuole for parasite expansion. Schepis et al. show the induction of membrane ruffling via host Rho GTPases by Plasmodium sporozoites facilitating productive invasion.     

The most abundant mammals on Earth

New estimates of global mammal abundance that use relationships between traits, estimates of range size, and International Union for Conservation of Nature’s (IUCN’s) Red List categories to predict the biomass of thousands of species have been developed by Greenspoon et al. This approach and some of the challenges that contribute to these estimates are summarized here.     

Chemical constituents from Valeriana jatamansi

Phytochemical study of Valeriana jatamansi Jones afforded 45 compounds, including twenty-three iridoids (1–23), five sesquiterpenes (24–28), three steroids (29–31) and fourteen lignins (32–45). The structures of these compounds were assigned by detailed interpretation of spectroscopic data (1D and 2D NMR, HRESIMS) and comparisons with the published data. This is the first report of isolation of compounds (1–6, 10, 21, 25, 41, 43, 44, 45) from Valerianaceae, compounds (13, 27, 39) within the genus Valeriana and compound 30 from V. jatamans. The chemotaxonomic data can support the genus Valeriana being accepted as a member of transitional taxa between the family Valerianaceae and Caprifoliaceae.     

Leveraging glycoside-targeted metabolomics to gain insight into biological function

In plants, uridine diphosphate (UDP)-dependent glycosyltransferases (UGTs) catalyze glycosylation of secondary metabolites, but assigning physiological functions to UGTs is still a daunting task. The recent study of Wu et al. presents a useful method to resolve this problem by elegantly combining modification-specific metabolomics with isotope tracing.     

Bear essentials

Strangely, American black bears come in many colours. New work by Puckett et al. shows that a missense alteration in the gene encoding tyrosinase-related protein 1 (TYRP1) likely interferes with melanin synthesis and is responsible for the cinnamon colour variant in the southwest USA. However, the adaptive significance of colour polymorphisms in this large carnivore remains opaque.     

CONSTANS,a key-player connecting day length to seed size

Plants sense oscillation in the day length as a reliable seasonal cue to drive optimal vegetative and reproductive growth. A recent study by Yu et al. has revealed how day length regulates seed size through CONSTANS. The CONSTANS–APETALA2 module enables plants to optimize their reproductive growth based on their photoperiod response type.     

Ensembles of synthetic polymers mimic biological fluids

Recently a report by Ruan et al. in Nature described how relatively simple random heteropolymers can replicate the properties of biological fluids. These polymers capture the segmental-level interactions between proteins and could enhance folding of membrane proteins, improve stability, and enable DNA sequestration in a chemistry specific manner.     

When less is more: accounting for overcompensation in mosquito SIT projects

Compensation and overcompensation under field conditions are confirmed in Aedes mosquitoes recently by Evans et al.: equal or increased densities of emerging adults may thus result from reduced larval densities. Here the consequences when applying the sterile insect technique and provide recommendations to avoid counterproductive effects are discussed.