Reviews & Analysis

A Perspective highlights current evidence that supports oligodendrocytes and their progenitors’ involvement in cognition and proposes that our understanding of learning and memory can be expanded beyond the classic view of synaptic plasticity to a system-wide network function.

Microglia “heterogeneity” is often described in the literature, but a clear understanding of what “heterogeneity” entails is essential to avoid confusion among researchers.

In this Perspective, the authors discuss how state-of-the-art three-dimensional mapping technologies such as fine-scale terrestrial laser scanning can help us understand the theories of plant forms.

Colzato, Beste and Hommel discuss the possibility of a theoretical framework which considers the positive potential of selective cognitive dysfunction. They suggest a two-step approach to identify the potential and develop the corresponding training.

The study of animal societies has been increasingly explored with social network analysis. In this Perspective, the importance of these networks in directing conservation efforts of fish is highlighted.

Al-Aghbar et al propose a TCR bending mechanosignal model that demonstrates how local mechanical membrane bending may influence T cell receptor binding events and thus T-cell activation.

Okabe and Uchiyama provide their perspective on the work performed during the past decade on intracellular thermometry and major challenges of the field. Describing the importance of the temperature at both large and cellular scale, they highlight the possible contribution of intracellular thermometry to new biological studies.

This perspective by Ziegler et al. explores the impact of mitochondria-endoplasmic reticulum contacts (MERCs) biology on cellular senescence. The authors also explore the potential impacts of MERCs perturbation and how this relates to the increase in cellular senescence observed in common age-related diseases.

Golesorkhi et al. discuss recent literature on intrinsic neural timescales, their potential role in input processing including computational mechanism, and how they relate to mental features, psychiatric disorders and artificial intelligence.

In this Perspective, Diane Dickel and colleagues review recent progress and opportunities in applying single-cell sequencing and microfluidics methods to plants. The authors highlight the need for new tools developed with plants in mind, and advocate for the creation of a centralized, open-access database to house plant single-cell data.

Soldan and co-authors propose an evolutionary framework for understanding how host control of the microbiota is influenced by artificial selection. They go on to discuss the potential effect of domestication syndrome on the seed microbiome and plant-microbe interactions in the spermosphere.

Simeoni et al discuss how recent structural work has improved our understanding of SARS-CoV-2 Nsp1-mediated translation inhibition and how Nsp1 inhibition could impact host immune responses and suppress viral replication.

Pudewell et al. discuss and advance our understanding of accessory proteins, which are crucial for the RTK-RAS-MAPK signalling cascade. They consider the therapeutic potential of targeting such modulators as an alternative to targeting constituent components of the RTK-RAS-MAPK signalling cascade in the treatment of diseases such as cancer.

In this Perspective, Simpson, Pye, and Whitaker discuss recent research identifying structural genomic variants in human cancers with a particular focus on deletions and duplications at genomic fragile sites. They argue that tumours with predominantly fragile site structural variants represent a distinct mutational signature that warrants further research.

Mohan, Abdulhalim and Cvelbar investigated the capabilities of different plasmonic-based sensing techniques including the surface plasmon resonance (SPR), localised SPR, surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS), surface-enhanced fluorescence (SEF) and surface-enhanced infrared absorption spectroscopy (SEIRA) for the detection of viruses. The presented data will assist in the development of novel and versatile virus biosensors.

In this Perspective, Axel Newton and Andrew Pask examine the role of the Runt-related transcription factor 2 (RUNX2) QA repeat during skeletal development and discuss how its emergence and expansion may have facilitated the evolution of morphological novelty in vertebrates.

In this Perspective, Christopher Gisriel et al. discuss the challenges in accurate assignment of co-factors in cryo-EM, particularly for chlorophylls. They explore the factors that lead to misassignment and offer suggestions for improving reliability of cryo-EM-based assignments.

In this Perspective article, Claudio Quilodrán et al. discuss how hybridization should be considered with respect to conservation. They argue hybridization may be useful for species conservation by enhancing the ability of taxa to adapt better to changing environmental conditions or increasing genetic diversity.

Sannigrahi et al. discuss conformational switching that allows proteins to alter their conformation, aiding in pathogenesis by enabling cellular entry of viruses and bacterial toxins. Focussing on fusion ___domain of the Spike glycoprotein of SARS COV2 virus, they identify similar “switching sequences” present in diverse pathogen derived proteins.

In this Perspective, Bryan Runck and colleagues discuss an often-overlooked consequence of scaling up cover cropping – a cornerstone of sustainable agriculture. Using published seed yield data from common cover crops, they demonstrate the potentially large land use cost and discuss ways for reducing this cost.